sanitary napkin

American  

noun

1. a pad of absorbent material, as cotton, worn by women during menstruation to absorb the uterine flow.

---

Etymology

Origin of sanitary napkin

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20

Example Sentences

In an email, Spies said the bandage and sanitary napkin stayed in place for her entire six-day stay — and it wasn’t the first time she’s used the hack.

From Washington Post • Dec. 8, 2022

Yoko Ono sat behind him, knitting while blindfolded by a sanitary napkin.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2020

Most include swabs of saliva from close relatives, but also DNA taken from items used by the missing persons themselves, including toothbrushes, combs, razor blades and, once, even a sanitary napkin.

From Washington Times • Feb. 18, 2018

If I went to the bathroom with a sanitary napkin, I couldn’t carry it in my hand, or even my pocket – I had to take the whole handbag in.

From The Guardian • Dec. 3, 2015

When I tried it on, the coat hanger dug into the back of my skull, so I used a Kotex sanitary napkin for padding.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls