mattress

noun

mat·​tress ˈma-trəs 

plural mattresses

1

a

: 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

: a soft, airtight case that is designed to be inflated and used as a bed : air 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

One retailer already seeing success with Alby’s new expansion is mattress company PlushBeds. —Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 13 May 2025

Several train lines in and out of Baltimore have been disrupted after a fire broke out at a vacant mattress warehouse Monday evening, authorities said. —Hanna Park, CNN Money, 13 May 2025

Firefighters in Baltimore, Maryland, are working to contain a massive blaze at a vacant mattress warehouse that temporarily shut down Amtrak service in the area overnight on May 12, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 13 May 2025

Tucked away in a corner of New York's Foley Square, the Court of International Trade has nationwide jurisdiction on trade disputes and has recently focused its energy on more niche issues, like honey customs disputes and mattress imports. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 13 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing mattress

• air mattress
• mattress pad

Kids Definition

mattress

noun

mat·​tress ˈma-trəs 

1

: a fabric case filled with springy material used as a bed or on a bedstead

2

: a sack that can be filled with air or water and used as a mattress