1
: a piece of material (such as cloth or paper) used at table to wipe the lips or fingers and protect the clothes
2
: a small cloth or towel: such as
a
dialectal British
: handkerchief
b
chiefly Scotland
: kerchief
c
chiefly British
: diaper sense 1
3
Examples of napkin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Give Your Table an Upgrade Rattan chargers, crisp white dinnerware, and linen napkins in bright prints and colors can quickly transform your table with summertime cheer.
—
Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2026
Always use a white cloth, paper towel, or napkin that won't transfer any additional dye to blot away the stain.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
The flight attendants then attempted to solve the problem by shoving napkins inside the ceiling holes.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Cabinet secretaries and other senior officials arrived and wiped off their damp seats with napkins.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for napkin
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Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 May 2026
Always use a white cloth, paper towel, or napkin that won't transfer any additional dye to blot away the stain.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
The flight attendants then attempted to solve the problem by shoving napkins inside the ceiling holes.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Cabinet secretaries and other senior officials arrived and wiped off their damp seats with napkins.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for napkin
Cite this Entry
“Napkin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/napkin. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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