drapery

noun

drap·​ery ˈdrā-p(ə-)rē How to pronounce drapery (audio)
plural draperies
Synonyms of draperynext
1
British : dry goods
2
a
: a decorative piece of material usually hung in loose folds and arranged in a graceful design
b
: hangings of heavy fabric for use as a curtain
3
: the draping or arranging of materials

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of drapery in a Sentence

The painter arranged several items among drapery and began to work. the drapery for the picture window matched the color of the furniture in the center of the room
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty The apartment previously had an old Park Avenue vibe, as show in listing photos, with tasseled arm chairs, heavy drapery, and ornate mirrors. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 11 Mar. 2025 Its fabric, woven through the vinyl web, has the texture of a boucle textile, which is juxtaposed with the wool-and-silk-blend drapery panels. — Greg Carannante, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2025 Spring will also usher in a bolder reimagining of white lace that’s delightfully reminiscent of doilies and vintage drapery, but made for everyday wear. — Laura Lajiness Kaupke, refinery29.com, 27 Feb. 2025 The air is warm and soft, sensual like silk drapery. — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drapery

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drapery was in the 14th century

Rhymes for drapery

See All Rhymes for drapery

Browse Nearby Words

drapery
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drapery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drapery. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

drapery

noun
drap·​ery ˈdrā-p(ə-)rē How to pronounce drapery (audio)
plural draperies
1
: a decorative fabric hung in loose folds
2
: curtains of heavy fabric often used over thinner curtains

More from Merriam-Webster on drapery

Nglish: Translation of drapery for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about drapery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All