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

Plus, most rooms have a recycling bin in addition to a trash bin in the larger kitchenettes and the custom mattresses are eco-friendly, US made, and toxin-free. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026

Brands like Helix Sleep offer a range of mattresses designed for different sleep styles and comfort preferences. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Ernest couldn’t sleep, but lay awake on his mattress in the basement, figuring. — Madeline Ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

She was held at Cumberland County Jail in an isolated cell, allowed only a thick, tear-resistant suicide-prevention gown and mattress, and a Styrofoam tray. — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 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