place mat

noun

: a small often rectangular table mat on which a place setting is laid

Examples of place mat 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.
Use place mats or tablecloths on your kitchen table to keep food spills, condensation from drinks, and utensils from marring or staining the surface. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 May 2026 Here, traditional Portuguese handicrafts—olive wood chopping boards, floral linen place mats—sit alongside more playful works by contemporary artisans and creatives. Catarina Loureiro, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 May 2026 Sealed with a reactive blue finish, this 12-piece set looks like the ocean itself when paired with beige linen tablecloths and wicker place mats to mimic the sandy beach. Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026 The Central Elementary fifth grader has tied warm blankets for people in need, made holiday place mats for Meals on Wheels, and crafted colorful dog toys for local animal shelters. Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for place mat

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of place mat was in 1928

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Place mat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/place%20mat. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

place mat

noun
: a small table mat on which a place setting is laid
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