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Definition of placemat

placemat

/ˈpleɪsˌmæt/
place · mat
Plural:placemats
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placemat Lexical Profile

placemat Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small protective and decorative mat placed on a dining table under an individual's plate, bowl, and cutlery.

Example

"She arranged the woven placemats on the wooden dining table before setting out the dinner plates."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for placemat

• Nearby Words

placekick
placekicker
placeless
placemat
placement
placenta
placental

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound formed from the noun 'place' (referring to a dining place setting) and 'mat', first recorded in the mid-20th century in American English.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Placemat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 10, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/placemat
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