armrest

American  

[ahrm-rest] / ˈɑrmˌrɛst /

noun

armrests plural

1. a projecting, often padded support for the forearm, as at the side of a chair or sofa or between seats in a theater, car, or airplane.

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armrest British  

/ ˈɑːmˌrɛst /

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: arm.  the part of a chair, sofa, etc, that supports the arm

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• armrests
  plural

Etymology

Origin of armrest

First recorded in 1885–90; arm ¹ + rest ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

armrest armrests

“Imagine you’re a passenger on a very turbulent plane and you’re gripping the armrest for dear life,” she says.

From Slate ● May 10, 2026

The rear cabin matches the front in molded-leather magnificence, with two deep-seated, high-bolstered rear chairs cozied up between the wheel wells, sharing an armrest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026

Flight attendants are there primarily to ensure safety, Rosenberg said, not to referee social dynamics: “There should not be an expectation that flight attendants will settle armrest disputes.”

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 10, 2026

Another gripe linked to the amount of space people have on planes is double armrest hogging.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2024

My neck snapped against the armrest and I rolled onto the rough carpet behind the front passenger seat.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

The post included photos of the proposed armrests, a detail that quickly drew mockery, confusion and criticism across social media.

From Salon ● Dec. 27, 2025

Novares makes door handles, armrests and engine parts at sites across Europe and China, and has annual sales of around $1.3 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2025

A good place to start might be by loosening the grip of your hands from your armrests.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2025

To resolve any tension, Mr Hanson says people should get used to the idea of having "elbow rests" rather than armrests, and share them.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2024

He’s still looking up at me, hands on his armrests, ready to spring.

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini