1
or kapok tree
: a massive tropical deciduous tree (Ceiba pentandra) of the mallow family that has a trunk with short, sharp prickles, a buttressed base, and porous lightweight wood and that bears large seedpods containing numerous silky fibers
2
: a mass of silky fibers that surrounds the seeds of the kapok tree and are used especially as a filling for mattresses, pillows, life preservers, and sleeping bags and as insulation
Examples of kapok in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After roughly half an hour of sitting with the officers in the shadow of the kapok, being interrogated about my thoughts on the government, a four-by-four pulled up.
—
Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2026
Along the banks, the giants of Amazonia, the sentinel royal palms and the colossal domed kapoks, rose above a confusion of trunks, reeds, and trailing vines.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
They are made in the U.S. with high-quality materials including cotton bouclé, genuine cowhide leather, velvet, an organic kapok filling and healing crystals.
—Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 18 June 2025
Kapok: Originally from the kapok tree, the kapok used in pillows is a silky, cotton-like fiber known for being soft and luxurious.
—Emma Seymour, Good Housekeeping, 27 Feb. 2023
The beloved Avocado Organic pillow now comes in a 20-by-12-inch to-go size, with the same firm feel and organic kapok-fiber fill, plus an optional machine-washable cotton cover ($19).
—The Editors, Outside Online, 2 July 2022
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Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2026
Along the banks, the giants of Amazonia, the sentinel royal palms and the colossal domed kapoks, rose above a confusion of trunks, reeds, and trailing vines.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
They are made in the U.S. with high-quality materials including cotton bouclé, genuine cowhide leather, velvet, an organic kapok filling and healing crystals.
—Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 18 June 2025
Kapok: Originally from the kapok tree, the kapok used in pillows is a silky, cotton-like fiber known for being soft and luxurious.
—Emma Seymour, Good Housekeeping, 27 Feb. 2023
The beloved Avocado Organic pillow now comes in a 20-by-12-inch to-go size, with the same firm feel and organic kapok-fiber fill, plus an optional machine-washable cotton cover ($19).
—The Editors, Outside Online, 2 July 2022
Cite this Entry
“Kapok.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kapok. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kapok
noun
ka·pok
ˈkā-ˌpäk 
: a mass of silky fibers that cover the seeds of a large tropical tree and are used as a filling for mattresses, life preservers, and sleeping bags
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