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

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Etymology

Origin of armrest

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

armrest armrests

Easy: Yesterday, I was not only gripping the armrest but gripping the hand of the flight attendant who was sitting down in the aisle, soothing me as I hyperventilated and wept.

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

He grabbed my hand under the armrest at the movie.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

"They need to have armrests and a backrest, there needs to be curvature to the seat, I like a bench to be made out of wood," explained Wilmot.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

And then, just when you think the surprises have all played out: heated center console armrests.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

Critics argue that marble armrests are less about improving the audience experience and more about spectacle.

From Salon ● Dec. 27, 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

Her hands lay on top of the armrests as if they needed a place to sit after a lifetime of clenching, and in fact, she seemed to be settling into stillness, quietly and crankily.

From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt

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