air mattress

American

noun

a mattress, usually of plastic or rubber, that can be inflated for use, as in camping, and deflated for storage.

Etymology

Origin of air mattress

First recorded in 1925–30

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.

To celebrate, an investor replaced his air mattress with a real bed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 12, 2025

The fire department's use of the air mattress is also being investigated.

From BBC • Aug. 22, 2024

Drivers who install the sleeping kit are able to make both front and back seats lay completely flat, then watch as a double-size air mattress unfolds and is automatically inflated.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 18, 2024

Carla Brown waits on an air mattress, eager for her occupational therapist to arrive at her apartment next to the Hollywood Freeway, mere blocks from where she once camped on the sidewalk.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2024

Chantal whispers as I quietly slide back onto my air mattress.

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi

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