napkin

noun

nap·​kin ˈnap-kən 

1

: a piece of material (such as cloth or paper) used at table to wipe the lips or fingers and protect the clothes

2

: a small cloth or towel: such as

a

dialectal British : handkerchief

b

chiefly Scotland : kerchief

c

chiefly British : diaper sense 1

3

: sanitary napkin

Examples of napkin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ninety percent of the restaurant’s business is dine-in, so its oversize and shareable food items are delivered to the table on wood cutting boards with bread knives and linen napkins. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026

No more scribbling names on napkins and losing them later. —Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

It was delivered with a pile of extra napkins and the warning of a hot plate. —Fielding Buck, Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026

Ryan remarked, spinning around a napkin holder to show a sticker of the dog’s face. —Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nappekin, from nape tablecloth, from Anglo-French, from Latin mappa napkin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing napkin

• sanitary napkin

Kids Definition

napkin

noun

nap·​kin ˈnap-kən 

1

: a small square of cloth or paper used during a meal to wipe the lips or fingers and protect the clothes

2

: a small cloth or towel

Etymology

Middle English nappekin "napkin," from nappe "tablecloth," derived from Latin mappa "napkin" — related to apron, map

Medical Definition

napkin

noun

nap·​kin ˈnap-kən 

1

chiefly British : diaper

2

: sanitary napkin