What does quilted mean?
Quilted describes something made, covered, or padded with layers held together by stitching, often in a repeated diamond or geometric pattern. The word commonly appears with clothing and household textiles, including quilted jackets, vests, blankets, and bedspreads. Beyond its literal meaning, it can imply warmth, insulation, durability, or a traditional handcrafted appearance. In textile descriptions, the term identifies both the construction and the visible stitched pattern. The related verb quilt means to make or cover something by sewing together padded layers, while the noun quilt names the resulting covering. As an adjective, quilted is especially useful when the stitching is a prominent feature of the object rather than merely a method of manufacture.
Made, covered, or padded with layers held together by stitching, often in a decorative pattern.
"The chair had a quilted seat and wooden arms."
Often used attributively with garments, bedding, and upholstery.
Past tense and past participle of quilt: to make or cover something by sewing together padded layers.
"The artisan quilted the fabric with a diamond pattern."
This form is most common in the passive construction, as in “The coat is quilted.”
Quilted clothing turns stitching into structure: the decorative seams also trap insulation and create a distinctive padded texture.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quilted come from?
Quilted is derived from quilt, which comes through Old French cuilte from Latin culcita, meaning a mattress or padded bed covering. The verb quilt developed from the noun and refers to sewing together layers of material, traditionally often filled with wool or down. Cognates include the French quilt and the English quilter, a person who makes or repairs quilts.
Related word forms
How quilted is actually used
The word is normally used attributively before a noun, as in “quilted jacket” or “quilted cover.” It can also be used predicatively, as in “Her coat is quilted.”
Easily confused with quilted
A quilt is the finished padded covering itself, whereas quilted describes material or an item made in a quilted pattern.