Doormat: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is often used for a mat placed right outside or inside the door to clean the bottom of shoes. It's also used to describe a person who lets others walk over them or take advantage of them, and this has a negative connotation.

• Please wipe your shoes on the doormat before coming in.
• She felt like a doormat in the relationship, always giving but never receiving.

This phrase is used for a mat at the door that often has 'Welcome' written on it. It's typically used at home entrances to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for visitors.

• The new welcome mat has bright colors and adds charm to our entryway.
• I love the message on your welcome mat; it makes guests feel special.

This is a more formal term typically used in commercial or public buildings to describe mats placed at the entrance to keep interiors clean by trapping dirt from shoes.

• The entrance mat at the hotel is exceptionally clean and matches the decor.
• Schools often have entrance mats to avoid muddy floors.

This term specifically refers to a mat or device designed to scrape mud or dirt from the bottom of shoes. It can be used in outdoor or highly trafficked areas where shoes are likely to get very dirty.

• I need a good foot scraper for the porch since it gets very muddy here.
• The foot scraper outside the building helps a lot during the rainy season.