upholstery
Americannoun
-
upholsteries
plural
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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
-
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:
This could be achieved with upholstery that shows the company cares that you’re there.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 5, 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 Nappa leather upholstery comes in a choice of two colors, black and snow-white, what Mazda calls “Japanese premium.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025
“The pink silks, bronze golds and the upholstery, it all suits Glinda. And the bubble becomes a hot-air balloon — the Wizard’s technology.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2025
Cautiously she looked at the upholstery, the overhead lights, the open door to the pilot’s cabin—then she closed her eyes.
From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George
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
He must set himself against upholsteries and uniforms, against formalities and rituals.
From From a College Window by Arthur Christopher Benson
Well, rejoice in your upholsteries and cookeries if so be they will make you "happy."
From The Map of Life Conduct and Character by William Edward Hartpole Lecky
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 William Stearns Davis
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
