futon

American  

[foo-ton, fyoo-] / ˈfu tɒn, ˈfju- /

noun

futons plural

1. a thin mattress, usually filled with layers of cotton batting and encased in cotton fabric, placed on a floor for sleeping, especially in traditional Japanese interiors, and folded and stored during the day.

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futon British  

/ ˈfuːˌtɒn /

noun

1. a Japanese padded quilt, laid on the floor for use as a bed, or on a frame for use as a chair

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• futons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of futon

1875–80; < Japanese < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese pútuán rush-mat seat

Explanation

A futon is a flexible mattress on a frame: it can either be folded up to use as seating or unfolded to use as a bed. When your cousins come to stay, they might sleep on a futon in the living room. In the U.S., the word futon generally refers to the combination of a mattress and a light frame; in Japan, a futon is simply the mattress itself, usually stuffed with cotton and laid out on the floor for sleeping. If you visit a traditional Japanese home, you might sleep on a futon with a tatami mat beneath it and a duvet, or kakebuton, covering you.

Example Sentences

When he woke up outside on a stranger’s futon with no money to his name, he knew he’d hit rock bottom.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2026

The master bedroom features enough space for a king-sized bed, a futon, and comes with several windows that showcase the lush backyard.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 25, 2025

Now, the 58-year-old pays $500 to sleep on a gray futon in the living room of an apartment.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2022

The woman told police she found the device, which looked like a phone charger, under her futon, the warrant stated.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 29, 2022

Leo is struggling to pull the futon mattress out of the closet.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila