# duvet

/dˈuːveɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/duvet
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. bed covering

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a warm, soft cover for a bed that is filled with feathers or other soft material.

For teachers: a quilt or flat cloth bag filled with down or synthetic insulation, typically used with a removable cover as the primary bedding layer.

- It was so cold outside that I just wanted to stay under my warm duvet all morning.
- The hotel provides a thick down duvet on every bed, ensuring guests remain comfortable even during the peak of the alpine winter.

Usage: Commonly used in British, Irish, and Australasian English; American speakers typically use 'comforter'.

Teaching tip: While 'duvet' is understood globally, teachers should note that in the US, the term often refers specifically to the decorative cover rather than the thick insert itself.

### 2. a cover for a quilt

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a thin fabric cover that you put over a thick quilt to keep it clean.

For teachers: a removable fabric case for a quilt or comforter, functioning similarly to a large pillowcase.

- She bought a new floral duvet to match the curtains in her bedroom.
- The laundry instructions specify that only the cotton duvet should be machine washed, while the down-filled insert requires professional dry cleaning.

Usage: Often used as a shortened form of 'duvet cover' in North American contexts.

Teaching tip: In American English, 'duvet' is frequently used as a shorthand for 'duvet cover', which can lead to confusion with the British sense of the physical quilt.

## Examples

- I prefer a thick duvet to stay warm during the winter.
- The hotel provides a heavy goose-down duvet to ensure guests stay comfortable in the cold mountain air.
- While some travelers prefer the lightness of a synthetic duvet for its hypoallergenic properties, others find the natural loft of a feather-filled option to be superior for insulation.

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