humorous Any object that is no longer used and simply sits in place. An actual paperweight is a usually decorative object or novelty item intended to be placed on top of papers on a desk to keep them in place with its weight (so they do not blow off the desk, etc.). I bought that book expecting to read it throughout the summer, but it was so boring that I put it down almost immediately. Now it's just a 600-page paperweight. Ryan begged and pleaded for me to buy him the latest video game console for Christmas, but it's just been an expensive paperweight for the last few months.