tatami

noun

ta·​ta·​mi tä-ˈtä-mē How to pronounce tatami (audio)
ta-
plural tatami or tatamis
: straw matting used as a floor covering in a Japanese home

Examples of tatami in a Sentence

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.
Musume, the Asian fusion sushi and steakhouse damaged by the January 2024 Sandman Hotel gas explosion, will reopen in November with a new executive chef, a nine-course omakase and the historic bank vault preserved as a private dining tatami room. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Aug. 2026 Shoes left at the door, donning slippers to be worn except on tatami mats, wearing yukatas to the onsen and to dinner that night. — Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Kikuko made no attempt to take it, so Kenzo placed it on the tatami. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 The elegant, minimalist light pendants feel very Japanese, as do the large tatami mat–slash–window seats and ceramic wall hangings repaired with gold à la kintsugi. — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tatami

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tatami was in 1614

Rhymes for tatami

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Browse Nearby Words

tatajuba
tatami
Tatar
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tatami.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tatami. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tatami

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tatami

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