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Definition of napkin

napkin

/ˈnæp.kɪn/
nap · kin
Plural:napkins
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napkin Lexical Profile

napkin Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A square piece of cloth or paper used at a meal to wipe the fingers or lips and to protect garments from spills.

Example

"She carefully unfolded the linen napkin and placed it on her lap before the soup was served."

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2

British A piece of absorbent material wrapped around a baby's bottom to absorb bodily waste.

Example

"The new parents stocked up on reusable cotton napkins before the baby arrived."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for napkin

Word Nuance & Usage

In British and Commonwealth English, 'napkin' historically referred to a baby's diaper (often shortened to 'nappy'), whereas in North American English, the term is used exclusively for a mealtime cloth.

• Nearby Words

napalm
nape
naperville
napkin
naples
napo
napoleon

Word Origin & Etymology

Late Middle English: from Old French 'nappe' meaning 'tablecloth' (ultimately from Latin 'mappa' meaning 'sheet' or 'cloth'), combined with the English diminutive suffix '-kin'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Napkin. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/napkin
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