velvet

1 of 2

noun

vel·​vet ˈvel-vət 

1

: a clothing and upholstery fabric (as of silk, rayon, or wool) characterized by a short soft dense warp pile

2

a

: something suggesting velvet

b

: a characteristic (such as softness or smoothness) of velvet

3

: the soft vascular skin that envelops and nourishes the developing antlers of deer

4

a

: the winnings of a player in a gambling game

b

: a profit or gain beyond ordinary expectation

velvetlike

ˈvel-vət-ˌlīk 

adjective

velvet

2 of 2

adjective

1

: made of or covered with velvet

also : clad in velvet

2

: resembling or suggesting velvet : velvety

a velvet voice

Examples of velvet in a Sentence

Noun

She was dressed in black velvet.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But perhaps that’s just a familiar gripe of one, like myself, who stands on the other side of the velvet rope from the likes of Jacobs and Coppola. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025

There are no options, just the warm, rust-colored velvet (85% cotton, 15% polyester with a 100% cotton pile). —Zoë Sessums, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2025

Adjective

Topfinel Velvet Blackout Curtains To update your drapery, swap out your existing curtains for these velvet blackout options. —Brittney Morgan, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2025

Its shaded, open-air terrace—lined with plush velvet Parisian loveseats—offers front-row views of lively pétanque matches and the market bustle below. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English veluet, velvet, borrowed from Anglo-French velvet, from velu "shaggy, soft, velvety" (going back to early Medieval Latin villūtus, from Latin villus "shaggy growth of hair, cloth nap" + Late Latin -ūtus, adjective suffix) + -et -et entry 1; Latin villus, perhaps dialectal variant of vellus "plucked wool, fleece" — more at wool

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing velvet

• velvet ant
• velvet bean

Kids Definition

velvet

noun

vel·​vet

ˈvel-vət

1

: a fabric with short soft raised fibers

2

: the soft skin covering the developing antler of a deer

velvet adjective