Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

mattress

noun
Save Word
mat·​tress | \ ˈma-trəs How to pronounce mattress (audio) \

Definition of mattress

1a : 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 bedstead
b : an inflatable airtight sack for use as a 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 Reviewers say this memory foam mattress is soft and very comfortable. — Shayna Murphy, USA TODAY, "The best early Wayfair Black Friday deals you can get now," 26 Nov. 2019 In fact, a 2012 poll by the National Sleep Foundation revealed that 93% of people consider a comfortable mattress to be the most important factor for a good night’s sleep, with comfortable pillows coming in a close second. — Braelyn Wood, Health.com, "These Are the Best Insulated Blackout Curtains to Improve Your Sleep Quality," 6 Nov. 2019 Of course, the college-dorm mattress is no standard twin, but what's known as the twin extra-long (XL), five inches longer than its traditional counterpart. — Alia Wong, The Atlantic, "The Ballad of the Twin XL Mattress," 31 Aug. 2019 The mattress and bedding brand is offering 25% off sitewide. — Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, "The Labor Day Deals That Are Worth Your Time," 20 Aug. 2019 Without humans to weigh them down, the mattresses were free to go wherever the wind would take them. — Melissa Locker, Time, "Sit Back and Enjoy the Hilarious Flight of the Air Mattresses on a Very Windy Outdoor Movie Night," 20 Aug. 2019 While at the police station, police said Khano ripped the padding out of a mattress in the lock-up cell. — Pioneer Press Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Morton Grove police: Woman accused of spitting at restaurant employee, damaging police property," 11 Nov. 2019 McIngvale said that if the Astros had won, his winnings would have covered the cost of his customers' free mattresses. — David Williams, CNN, "Houston's 'Mattress Mack' lost $13 million in bets on the Astros World Series loss but says he'd do it again," 31 Oct. 2019 Purple: Save up to $400 on mattress and sleep bundles from Oct. 13 through Oct. 14. — CNN Underscored, "Columbus Day: Your A-Z guide to all the sales and deals," 14 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mattress.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of mattress

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for mattress

Middle English materas, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin materacium, from Arabic maṭraḥ place where something is thrown

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about mattress

Time Traveler for mattress

Time Traveler

The first known use of mattress was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Statistics for mattress

Last Updated

3 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Mattress.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mattress. Accessed 10 December 2019.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for mattress

mattress

noun
How to pronounce mattress (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of mattress

: a cloth case that is filled with material and used as a bed

See the full definition for mattress in the English Language Learners Dictionary

mattress

noun
mat·​tress | \ ˈma-trəs How to pronounce mattress (audio) \

Kids Definition of mattress

: a springy pad for use on a bed

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on mattress

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mattress

Spanish Central: Translation of mattress

Nglish: Translation of mattress for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of mattress for Arabic Speakers

Comments on mattress

What made you want to look up mattress? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

reiterate

Listen to the pronounciation of reiterate

to state or do over again or repeatedly

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Semantic Drift Quiz

  • a twisty river
  • Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games