A home’s furnishings should include cushions and pillows. They provide the decor of the living room and bedroom with a much-appreciated sense of comfort. Based on the season, they might also be readily changed out; however, as you look through furnishings, you can be unclear about their differences.
The word “pillow” means an item typically found in the bedroom and used as a headrest when sleeping or napping. It has a somewhat square shape. The word “cushion,” on the other hand, is used to describe a soft ornamental item that is placed on a sofa for decoration and comfort.
The usage of the terminology in various nations and cultures is largely to blame for the ambiguity between them. However, cushions and pillows are very different when deciding what fluffy comfort items you require in your life.
What Does The Word ‘Pillow” Mean?
A pillow is described as “a stuffed pouch to assist the head of a sleeping person.” However, across all continents and cultures, people typically think of pillows as the objects on which they rest their heads at night. It is also defined as a block of wood or metal that supports balance pressure.
Although technically speaking, you might consider the items you set on a settee or reclining chair ornamental pillows; the phrase is frequently used to describe them. Pillows are fantastic since they offer a wide range of options for your sleeping comfort.
Since you must select the ideal pillow that helps both your sleeping position and individual interests, numerous pillows are available in various materials and designs.
Cotton, polyester, and bamboo are the most common covering materials that encapsulate memory foam, shredded foam, feathers, and other different fillers for particular needs. Additionally, pillows can be designed with active foam surges and fall for increased back or neck support, or they can be contoured expressly.
Specific pillow contents can be removed or added to produce a firmer or milder feel; others even use a multilayer structure for individualized comfort. Back sleepers require a thinner, resilient pillow to maintain the head height between shoulders and provide a curve for the neck to lay against.
A small pillow that lets your head align with the bed is necessary for stomach sleepers. For the neck and head to be elevated and the backbone to remain upright, side sleepers could use thicker, firmer support between shoulders.
What Does The Word “Cushion” Mean?
The word “cushion” is a soft pile of material filled into a fabric bag. It is also defined as a pool of steam at the end of a steam engine’s cylinder that the piston will hit. It is the lip that surrounds a board in cue games and deflects some of the force of the pool balls.
A cushion, as opposed to a pillow, is more comfortable when you are crouching, sitting, or just relaxing. They are not designed specifically for supporting your neck and head in the correct position or your spinal health. Even though they are generally thought of as more aesthetic than functional, cushions do offer comfort.
For different purposes, cushions are also available in a range of designs. Generally speaking, cushions employ one of the two types of materials and can be filled with polyfill or strong foam support.
Natural cotton, microfibers, polyester, or other textiles that are soothing to skin surfaces can be employed as the outermost layer since they are directly in contact with the body and do not have an additional casing that can be utilized.
Cushions come in various sizes and forms, making them ideal for use as replaceable padding on several furniture items or as portable furnishings that you may organize for convenience and aesthetics.
Additionally, the coverings might become interchangeable with different fillings that you can take out for washing or add stiffness or softness to it depending on the needs you require for it.
Word Usage Posts
How To Properly Use The Words “Pillow” And “Cushion” In A Sentence
The word “pillow” can be used as a verb or a noun in a sentence. As a noun, it is used when talking about a plush headrest for supporting the head while sleeping. As a verb, this word is used to refer to the act of laying upon or resting on a pillow.
It is also used when talking about a block placed beneath a bowsprit’s inner end; this word is used to refer to simple, unadorned fustian. You can use the word “pillow” when referring to the padding that supports the body when it is at rest for aesthetic, therapeutic, or comfort reasons.
The word “cushion” can also be used as a noun or verb in a sentence. As a verb, it is used when talking about the absorption of an impact from something or someone. As a noun, this word is used to refer to a bag or case filled with a squishy, elastic material used for sitting or lounging.
This word is also used to describe a wild style of dancing that was once popular at weddings. It is used as a term for a pad used by engravers; the word “cushion” is also used when referring to an electrical machine’s rubber or a pad holding up a female’s hair.
Examples Of The Words “Pillow” And “Cushion” Used In Sentences
To further explain the difference between the words “pillow” and ‘cushion,” we will provide some detailed examples of the words used in sentences. Below are some examples of the word “pillow” in a sentence.
- While she slept, she felt a tiny tingle in her ears and opened her eyes; she saw a tiny spider on her pillow and immediately screamed and jumped off the bed.
- Blake had a long day at work because he was busy running errands for his boss throughout the day; however, as soon as he got home, he took a shower, snuggled down on his pillow, and fell asleep.
- Only moments after placing his head on the pillow, Pierre began to nod off. Suddenly, he heard the boom of gunfire and smelt blood and powder, which made him feel horrified and terrified of dying.
- She was upset by the conflicting emotions of wrath and yearning for the complex man as she embraced a pillow that smelt like him and glared at the wall while still thinking about him.
- Ezra chuckled as he threw Keith another pillow, who snatched it out of the air and tore it up in a cloud of white feathers.
Below are some examples of the word “cushion” in a sentence.
- The backrest bends forward, and the cushion moves forward and downward when a single, high-mounted handle is pulled; this way, you can make any adjustment as you please.
- When air strikes a flat surface, like the facade of a building, its direction changes, creating a cushion that lessens the impact of surges and impulses from nearby gusts.
- Each padded cushion features a zip that allows you to relocate or add filling to any region to ensure maximum satisfaction and comfort.
- Although a treadmill could be mentally challenging for someone who is not used to it, the cushion it offers greatly lessens pressure and the amount of wear on the body.
- Since she was kicked out, she decided to stay at her friend’s apartment and sleep on the couch’s armrest with her head buried in the cushion while snoring softly every night.
Final Thoughts
Since cushions and pillows serve diverse purposes in your home, you do not have to choose one over the other. Keep in mind that while cushions nearly allude to the pillow-like forms utilized in the more popular sections of your home for comfort and aesthetics, pillows are more widely recognized as a support for sleeping.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.