upholstery

American  

[uhp-hohl-stuh-ree, -stree, uh-pohl-] / ʌpˈhoʊl stə ri, -stri, əˈpoʊl- /

noun

upholsteries plural

1. the materials used to cushion and cover furniture.

2. the business of an upholsterer.

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upholstery British  

/ ʌpˈhəʊlstərɪ /

noun

1. the padding, covering, etc, of a piece of furniture

2. the business, work, or craft of upholstering

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Other Word Forms

• reupholstery
  noun

Etymology

Origin of upholstery

First recorded in 1640–50; upholster(er) + -y ³

Explanation

Upholstery refers to the covering on furniture. Without upholstery, your couch wouldn't be very comfortable. This is a word specific to furniture, especially the chairs and couches found in most living rooms. Upholstery consists of the material — including springs, padding, and fabric — that cover the bare bones of the furniture you sit on. If you have ever spilled a drink on a couch, someone might have yelled, "Watch out! You'll stain the upholstery!" People who put the upholstery on furniture are called upholsterers.

Example Sentences

Earlier this year, Emmanuel’s Rug and Upholstery Cleaners announced it was leaving Sodo.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 2, 2023

Upholstery endures, and Facebook is where Fletcher is the admin of the 3,300-strong Professional Upholsterer’s Network, where virtually everyone agrees they have never seen anything like this.

From Slate • Oct. 15, 2021

He thrifts most of his fabrics, often using curtains, tablecloths and other unexpected materials: Upholstery fabric with safari animals became a cropped jacket and a Carhartt denim coat was transformed into a chain bag.

From New York Times • Dec. 9, 2020

One of those is Steve Turner who opened Turner’s Upholstery in Rye 30 years ago and is urging young people to take a hard look at the trades as an alternative.

From Washington Times • Feb. 16, 2018

Upholstery and the outlay of human capital, could do no more.

From The International Monthly Magazine, Volume 5, No. 1, January, 1852 by Various