place mat

American  

noun

1. a mat set on a dining table beneath a place setting.

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Etymology

Origin of place mat

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

“I think you need to eat something,” she said, slapping the bowl onto a place mat, and she was right.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025

Here’s a tea towel that begs for that application, or even to be used as a place mat.

From New York Times • Dec. 6, 2021

And worst of all are ones that are both oily and acidic — and a sharply different color than the place mat.

From Washington Post • Jul. 18, 2021

Find the length and width of the place mat.

From Textbooks • Apr. 22, 2020

My finger traces patterns on the blue place mat.

From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes