: a covering spread over a dining table before the tableware is set

Examples of tablecloth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Elsewhere, the actual tablecloth material was dyed, cut into cloth, then braided and bound with leather to give PVC pants and a dress, with its sweet pintucked front panel, heft and structure. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026 Just days later, a white-tablecloth spot called Fiorenza opened in Alpharetta from a first-time restaurateur. — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 17 Sep. 2026 Sally swapped out the tablecloth seasonally for a breezy refresh. — Jody Garlock, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026 But behind the crisp white tablecloths, strict dress code and expensive steak dinners was a kitchen full of immigrant workers washing dishes, preparing food and keeping the restaurant running. — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tablecloth

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tablecloth was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tablecloth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tablecloth. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

tablecloth

noun
: a covering spread over a dining table before the places are set
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster