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

Long before its buttery aroma seeped into the upholstery of American theaters, the snack lived a humbler life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026

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

Some were made from colorful tweed, iridescent fabric or patterned upholstery material.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025

“Don’t worry. Like you said, with a bit of courage, creativity and fifteen”—I eyed the pink and mauve striped drapes in the living room—“thirty-five yards of upholstery fabric, anything is possible.”

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

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

From Time Magazine Archive

There are no fussy woods or sensitive upholsteries.

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

And it must be owned the light, in this explosion of all the upholsteries, and the human fine arts and coarse, was magical; and made your fair one an Armida,—if you liked her better so.

From The International Monthly Magazine, Volume 5, No. 1, January, 1852 by Various

Nevertheless, the big chair with the red silk upholsteries in which the countess sat had attracted his attention.

From Four Short Stories By Emile Zola by Zola, Émile