washboard

noun

wash·​board ˈwȯsh-ˌbȯrd 

ˈwäsh-

1

: a broad thin plank along a gunwale or on the sill of a lower deck port to keep out the sea

2

: baseboard

3

a

: a corrugated rectangular surface that is used for scrubbing clothes or as a percussion instrument

b

: a road or pavement so worn by traffic as to be corrugated transversely

c

: an abdominal area characterized by prominent and well-defined musculature

—usually used before another noun

a bodybuilder with washboard abs

a washboard stomach

Examples of washboard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Expect some washboard sections. —Graham Averill, Outside, 23 Feb. 2026

The museum is filled with items that pay homage to Walker, such as cotton and washboards. —Leondra Head, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026

Louisiana zydeco rolls across the room, driven by accordion and the full-body washboard frottoir (a percussion instrument). —Phil Thomas, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026

The front shocks, made to absorb washboards and uneven terrain, do a pretty good job of absorbing the road as well. —New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1742, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for washboard

• abhorred
• aboard
• accord
• adored
• afford
• award
• baseboard
• billboard
• blackboard
• boxboard
• breadboard
• broadsword

Kids Definition

washboard

noun

wash·​board ˈwȯsh-ˌbō(ə)rd 

ˈwäsh-, 

-ˌbȯ(ə)rd

: a grooved board to scrub clothes on