What does duvet mean?
A large, soft bag filled with down, feathers, or synthetic fibres, used as a quilted cover on a bed instead of sheets and blankets. In American usage it is typically understood as the removable cover for such an insert.
- A soft quilted bed filling filled with down, feathers, or synthetic material, used as the main bed covering (British English; called comforter in US).
- (US) The fabric casing or cover that encloses such an insert, or loosely the insert itself.
"She shook out the duvet and pulled it up over the guests' bed."
"He flung back the duvet and stumbled toward the alarm clock."
"The hotel room smelled of fresh linen and a newly laundered duvet."
The word 'duvet' literally means 'down' in French — so when you say you're crawling under your duvet, you're saying you're diving into a pile of bird feathers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Easily confused with duvet
Doona is simply the Australian word for the same item — a regional synonym, not a different thing.
A duvet is the padded insert itself; a duvet cover is the washable protective fabric case that encloses it.
A comforter (American) is a quilted bed covering designed to be used without a cover, whereas British 'duvet' refers to the insert meant to be enclosed.