upholstery
Americannoun
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the materials used to cushion and cover furniture.
-
the business of an upholsterer.
noun
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the padding, covering, etc, of a piece of furniture
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the business, work, or craft of upholstering
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing upholstery
"The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury
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After the Shot Drops
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The Red Pyramid
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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.
See Examples For:
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
The upholstery smells like fenugreek and mustard seed.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
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
Well, rejoice in your upholsteries and cookeries if so be they will make you "happy."
From The Map of Life Conduct and Character by Lecky, William Edward Hartpole
The upholsteries and rugs were more splendid than any that Cornelia had seen gracing the palace of Roman patrician.
From A Friend of Caesar A Tale of the Fall of the Roman Republic. Time, 50-47 B.C. by Davis, William Stearns
Mementoes, bric-a-brac, curiosities, quaint chair or cosy lounge, upholsteries, pictures, and a thousand things that accrete in a home are discarded or neglected because there is no homestead in which to arrange them.
From The Wedding Ring A Series of Discourses for Husbands and Wives and Those Contemplating Matrimony by Talmage, T. De Witt (Thomas De Witt)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
