- Also called: table napkin a usually square piece of cloth or paper used while eating to protect the clothes, wipe the mouth, etc; serviette
- rare a similar piece of cloth used for example as a handkerchief or headscarf
- a more formal name for nappy1
- a less common term for sanitary towel
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
nap•kin /ˈnæpkɪn/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a piece of cloth or paper for use in wiping the lips and fingers and to protect the clothes while eating.
- British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]diaper.
nap•kin
(nap′kin),USA pronunciation n.
- a small piece of cloth or paper, usually square, for use in wiping the lips and fingers and to protect the clothes while eating.
- See sanitary napkin.
- British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]a diaper.
- Scottish Termsa handkerchief.
- Scottish Termsa kerchief or neckerchief.
- Latin mappa napkin) + -kin; compare map
- Middle French nappe
- Middle English, equivalent. to nape tablecloth (1350–1400
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
napkin /ˈnæpkɪn/ n
'napkin' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
apron
- mop
- napery
- nappy
- nappy rash
- sanitary towel
- table napkin
- cover
- disposable
- doily
- macramé
- mandilion
- map
- napkin ring
- nappe
- orarion
- ring
- sanitary belt
- sanitary napkin
- serviette
- soak