mattress

noun

mat·​tress ˈma-trəs 

plural mattresses

1

a

: a fabric case filled with resilient material (such as cotton, hair, feathers, foam rubber, or an arrangement of coiled springs) used either alone as a bed or on a bed frame

b

: a soft, airtight case that is designed to be inflated and used as a bed : air mattress

2

: a device (as of interwoven brush and poles) used to protect a shoreline, bank, or streambed from erosion

Examples of mattress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Learn more about our Amazon favorites and review our top choices for under $100 products, furniture, mattresses, sheets, and bath towels, too. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 27 June 2026

Across La Guaira, the coastal state hardest-hit by the disaster, and in parts of Caracas, thousands of residents are spending nights outdoors in plazas, parks, sports courts and improvised encampments, sleeping on mattresses, blankets and folding chairs. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 June 2026

Not ready to replace your mattress? — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Furniture retailer Wayfair is set to open a new 140,000-square-foot brick-and-mortar location by late this year, which will cover two floors and feature 19 departments, including furniture, housewares, appliances, mattresses, florals, decor and dedicated areas for design services. — Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 24 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English materas, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin materacium, from Arabic maṭraḥ place where something is thrown

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mattress

• air mattress
• mattress pad

Kids Definition

mattress

noun

mat·​tress ˈma-trəs 

1

: a fabric case filled with springy material used as a bed or on a bedstead

2

: a sack that can be filled with air or water and used as a mattress