ottoman

1 of 2

noun

ot·​to·​man ˈä-tə-mən 

1

capitalized

a

: a member of a Turkish dynasty founded by Osman I that ruled the Ottoman Empire

b

: a citizen or functionary of the Ottoman Empire

2

[French ottomane, from feminine of ottoman, adjective]

a

: an upholstered often overstuffed seat or couch usually without a back

b

: an overstuffed footstool

3

: a heavy clothing fabric characterized by pronounced crosswise ribs

Ottoman

2 of 2

adjective

Ot·​to·​man ˈä-tə-mən 

: of or relating to the Ottoman Empire or its citizens

Examples of ottoman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Investigators further discovered a deceased cat on an ottoman that appeared partially burned. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 6 Mar. 2025

Officers also found the body of a cat on an ottoman in the living room. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025

The suite will feature a 36.5-inch-wide seat that converts into a 79-inch-long rectangular bed, a separate ottoman, a 32-inch 4K TV screen, and a 60-inch curved wall for privacy. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2024

This versatile ottoman can be used inside or outside for extra seating, a footrest, or even an accent table. —Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French, adjective & noun, probably from Italian ottomano, from Arabic ʽothmānī, from ʽOthmān Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire

First Known Use

Noun

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1546, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ottoman

1 of 2 noun

ot·​to·​man ˈät-ə-mən 

plural ottomans

1

capitalized : a citizen or government official of the Ottoman Empire

2

: an upholstered footstool

Ottoman

2 of 2 adjective

Ot·​to·​man ˈät-ə-mən 

: of or relating to the Ottoman Empire, its rulers, or its citizens or government officials