drapery

noun

drap·​ery ˈdrā-p(ə-)rē 

plural draperies

1

British : dry goods

2

a

: a decorative piece of material usually hung in loose folds and arranged in a graceful design

b

: hangings of heavy fabric for use as a curtain

3

: the draping or arranging of materials

Synonyms of drapery

• curtains
• drapes

Examples of drapery in a Sentence

The painter arranged several items among drapery and began to work.

the drapery for the picture window matched the color of the furniture in the center of the room

Recent Examples on the Web

At the back, behind velvet drapery, lies The Salon, an intimate enclave set to debut as a private club-like speakeasy with programming spanning sound, receptions, and cultural gatherings. —Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025

By shuffling these more personal images with his own photographs of their rooms—draperies, windows, unmade beds, a shower stall—Xu constructs a fascinating if confounding new reality, a stage set destined to be struck. —Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025

The spaces are adorned with a mixture of natural woods, metal, mirrors, couture drapery, and textured coverings. —David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2025

In the dining room, skip the heavy drapery to allow as much sunlight to flood into the space as possible, Ferguson suggests. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for drapery

• papery

Kids Definition

drapery

noun

drap·​ery ˈdrā-p(ə-)rē 

plural draperies

1

: a decorative fabric hung in loose folds

2

: curtains of heavy fabric often used over thinner curtains