air mattress

noun

plural air mattresses

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

And take it from my early 1960s-model spine, a modern air mattress—cheap, simple to inflate and reliable—is something that many parents will find essential when sleeping in a tent.

—Steve Stephens

called also air bed

Examples of air mattress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For two years, Hafley slept on an air mattress under his desk. —CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

Compared to, say, an air mattress (which can be saggy and provide uneven support), a sleeper sofa is typically going to be much more comfortable for your guests to sleep on. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 22 Jan. 2026

The trio shared a 600-square-foot apartment, one bathroom, and a single bedroom with a queen bed pushed together with an air mattress. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026

Mattresses, box springs, futons, mattress toppers, sofa beds, and air mattresses can’t be accepted over concerns of bedbug infestations, hygiene, and allergens. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above