sanitary towel

American  

noun

British.

1. sanitary napkin.

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sanitary towel British  

noun

1. an absorbent pad worn externally by women during menstruation to absorb the menstrual flow

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Etymology

Origin of sanitary towel

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sanitary towel

It also looked at a number of other allegations, including one involving a sanitary towel with the words "No Surrender" on it being placed on the head of a member of the youth team.

From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2025

A manager "had found a used sanitary towel in one of the bins, and from what I gather, that dustbin was not meant for the disposal of sanitary towels," she said.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2023

For years, major period brands, including P&G’s sanitary towel Always, have advertised absorbency by using a bright blue liquid, as if to deflect us from what would actually be soaking a pad.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 11, 2020

Narenda, 13, says she doesn’t skip classes any more, because she knows how often to change a sanitary towel.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 27, 2019

When Scofield has to talk about some woman giving "the golden sanitary towel award," he seems to be holding the line out at arm's length between a fastidious thumb and forefinger.

From Time Magazine Archive