cushioning

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noun

cush·​ion·​ing ˈku̇-sh(ə-)niŋ 

: protection against force or shock provided by a cushion

Wearers will be able to pump air into the shoe's sole for extra cushioning.

—Joseph Pereira

Ligaments keep the vertebrae in place during movement, and fibrous disks with jellylike centers provide cushioning between them.

—Jane E. Brody

As part of NASA's "better, faster, cheaper" philosophy, the most recent missions to Mars largely relied on airbag cushioning for a soft landing.

—Beth Daley

Engineered flooring goes down over a thin foam sheet, which provides cushioning and sound-dampening.

—Joseph Truini

cushioning

2 of 2

adjective

: providing protection against force or shock : providing or serving as a cushion

Investigators are testing new kinds of cushioning material.

—Think

The ads will promote two key cushioning technologies …

—Jeff Jensen

Normal wear and tear also erodes the cushioning cartilage in our knees and hips, which decreases height a bit.

—Bob Guldin

But when they become wet from perspiration, cotton or wool socks hold the moisture against your skin and lose their cushioning ability …

—University Of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter

The mission also demonstrated a low-cost means of landing on Mars using cushioning airbags …

—Astronomy

Examples of cushioning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One of our editors requires extra cushioning due to foot pain, and these are her go-to walking sneakers due to said support. —Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025

The heels of the sneakers feature impressive cushioning for a comfy, snug fit right from the box, and to give the shoes a more feminine touch, the laces are beautiful purple ribbons. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025

Both models ship with two shocks at the rear to absorb uneven terrain, but the FC1 also boasts a suspension seat post for extra cushioning. —New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025

In terms of comfort, most participants wanted a wider toe box, a narrower heel and additional cushioning. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined above