ashtray

American

[ash-trey] / ˈæʃˌtreɪ /

noun

a receptacle for tobacco ashes of smokers.

ashtray British

/ ˈæʃˌtreɪ /

noun

a receptacle for tobacco ash, cigarette butts, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ashtray

First recorded in 1885–90; ash ¹ + tray ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Baltimore Ravens legend Ed Reed frequently comments on his posts and recently sent him a branded cigar ashtray.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Rogue Paq Poppy Party Ashtray The ultimate host’s ashtray, the Poppy Party Ashtray looks like a beautiful poppy, in polished brass or nickel-plated finishes.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2025

Seth Rogen, who counts the armchair as one of his favorite pieces from the collection, holds up one of the ashtray inserts.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2024

Mr. Walsh began his career in 1961 at The St. Louis Globe-Democrat, where he hot-dogged around the newsroom smoking cigars and used the floor as his ashtray.

From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2024

He felt Dana’s ashtray breath on his right ear: “How come you don’t got your boots on today? Who ever heard of a cowgirl wearing Air Jordans?”

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023