linoleum

American  

[li-noh-lee-uhm] / lɪˈnoʊ li əm /

noun

1. a hard, washable floor covering formed by coating burlap or canvas with linseed oil, powdered cork, and rosin, and adding pigments to create the desired colors and patterns.

2. any floor covering similar to this.

---

linoleum British  

/ lɪˈnəʊlɪəm /

noun

1. Often shortened to: lino.  a sheet material made of hessian, jute, etc, coated under pressure and heat with a mixture of powdered cork, linseed oil, rosin, and pigment, used as a floor covering

---

Etymology

Origin of linoleum

1863; < Latin līn ( um ) flax, linen + oleum oil; formerly trademark

Explanation

Linoleum is a sturdy, water-resistant type of floor covering. Many kitchens and bathrooms have linoleum floors, which kids love to slide across in their socks. Linoleum, which has been around since the late 1800s, is a smooth flooring made from linseed oil and other materials like powdered cork and wood fibers. Linoleum is durable, easy to clean with a mop, and comes in many colors. It's been largely replaced by cheaper and less flammable plastics, but many people still prefer linoleum because it's organic and non-allergenic. Linoleum's inventor coined the word, a combination of the Latin for “linen or flax,” linum, and oleum, which means "oil."

Example Sentences

For instance, linoleum flooring is costlier than sheet vinyl flooring.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

Those avocado green appliances, Formica countertops, and linoleum floors were just as crappy as they appear in those sitcom reruns.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

Draw a line in the linoleum — and make sure he doesn’t cross it.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

We got some nice new linoleum on the floor.’”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Chicken jumped from square to square across the checkered linoleum floor.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Related Words

• carpet
• carpeting
• tile
• woodwork