linoleum

noun

li·​no·​leum lə-ˈnō-lē-əm 

-ˈnōl-yəm

often attributive

1

: a floor covering made by laying on a burlap or canvas backing a mixture of solidified linseed oil with gums, cork dust or wood flour or both, and usually pigments

2

: a material similar to linoleum

Examples of linoleum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Walking in is a bit like walking back in time, with the original linoleum floors, yellowed with age, and the unpainted wood walls adorned with black and white photos and old sports memorabilia. — Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 20 June 2026

When Dean made banana pancakes, stray banana slices fell to the floor and got mashed into the linoleum by his stockinged feet. — Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Clean linoleum and vinyl floors with a solution of 1 tablespoon of baby shampoo or 1/2 teaspoon of eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner in 1 gallon of water. — Emerson Latham, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2026

Add 1 tablespoon of liquid detergent to a gallon of water and mop tile, vinyl or linoleum floors as usual. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin linum flax + oleum oil — more at oil

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for linoleum

• folium
• lolium
• oleum
• scholium
• petroleum
• trifolium
• tetrazolium

Kids Definition

linoleum

noun

li·​no·​leum lə-ˈnō-lē-əm 

-ˈnōl-yəm

: a floor covering with a canvas back and a surface of hardened linseed oil and usually cork dust