doormat

American  

[dawr-mat, dohr-] / ˈdɔrˌmæt, ˈdoʊr- /

noun

doormats plural

1. a mat, usually placed before a door or other entrance, for people arriving to wipe their shoes on before entering.

2. a person who is the habitual object of abuse or humiliation by another.

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doormat British  

/ ˈdɔːˌmæt /

noun

1. a mat, placed at the entrance to a building, for wiping dirt from shoes

2. informal a person who offers little resistance to ill-treatment by others

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• doormats
  plural

Etymology

Origin of doormat

First recorded in 1655–65; door + mat ¹

Related Words

• groupie
• lackey