# doormat

/ˈdɔɹˌmæt/ (US) · /dˈɔːmæt/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/doormat
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a flat mat you put in front of a door to clean your shoes on. People also use it to describe someone who lets others treat them badly without standing up for themselves.

For teachers: a flat, coarse mat placed at a doorway for wiping dirt from shoes. Extended metaphorically to a person who passively submits to mistreatment or domination.

## Examples

- She wipes her shoes on the doormat.
- He leaves his wet boots on the doormat by the front door every evening.
- The coir doormat, frayed by years of winter grit and summer dust, still lay squarely before the farmhouse door.

## Synonyms

Mat, pushover

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.