upholstery

American  

[uhp-hohl-stuh-ree, -stree, uh-pohl-] / ʌpˈhoʊl stə ri, -stri, əˈpoʊl- /

noun

• upholsteries
  plural

1. the materials used to cushion and cover furniture.

2. the business of an upholsterer.

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upholstery British  

/ ʌpˈhəʊlstərɪ /

noun

1. the padding, covering, etc, of a piece of furniture

2. the business, work, or craft of upholstering

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• reupholstery
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• upholsteries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of upholstery

First recorded in 1640–50; upholster(er) + -y ³

Explanation

Upholstery refers to the covering on furniture. Without upholstery, your couch wouldn't be very comfortable. This is a word specific to furniture, especially the chairs and couches found in most living rooms. Upholstery consists of the material — including springs, padding, and fabric — that cover the bare bones of the furniture you sit on. If you have ever spilled a drink on a couch, someone might have yelled, "Watch out! You'll stain the upholstery!" People who put the upholstery on furniture are called upholsterers.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upholstery upholsteries

A recent visit revealed peeling paint on the hotel’s facade, worn upholstery on some chairs and a few carpets that had been patched unevenly.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

Nearly all of the work was done in-house, including fabrication and a handmade interior produced through Vera’s own upholstery department, reflecting an emphasis on craftsmanship and historical continuity rather than cosmetic overhaul.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 23, 2026

Jenner chose a similar shade for the upholstery in her home theater, revealing two rows of brown velvet chairs that she described as “yummy” in her caption.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 30, 2025

The only thing we did was replace the upholstery because it was rotted out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 21, 2025

Some were lowered in the front and painted in bright metallic colors, like candy apple red, and had tucked and rolled upholstery in white or black.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez

There are no fussy woods or sensitive upholsteries.

From Time Magazine Archive

Textured fabrics and upholsteries in calming, neutral tones complement sleek, dark wood furniture and brushed stainless steel hardware throughout.

From Time Magazine Archive

The drawing room alone was finished, and with its red satin upholsteries and excess of ornamentation and furniture it struck a decidedly false note.

From Four Short Stories By Emile Zola by Émile Zola

Only the red upholsteries there were hideous; she would alter all that.

From Four Short Stories By Emile Zola by Émile Zola

Old odors laden with memory rushed to meet her; that pungency which, unaccountably enough, reeks of the cold boiled potato, and which old upholsteries, windowless hallways, and frequent meat stews can generate.

From Star-Dust by Fannie Hurst