furniture

IPA/ˈfɜːnɪtʃə(r)/
KK[fˈɚnɪtʃɚ]IPA/ˈfɜːrnɪtʃər/

furniture — noun

1. the movable items in a room or building — like sofas, desks, shelves, and wardro

1.nounA1
Definition

the movable items in a room or building — like sofas, desks, shelves, and wardrobes — that people need for everyday activities such as eating, sleeping, or working.

Example

Soraya bought new furniture for her living room last weekend.

The old wooden furniture in Indra's bedroom belonged to her grandmother.

uncountable: singular verb agreement (belonged)

Common collocations
  • piece of furniture
  • item of furniture
  • set of furniture
  • move furniture
  • buy furniture
  • furniture shop
  • furniture store
  • garden furniture
  • office furniture
  • second-hand furniture
Synonyms
  • furnishings

    more formal and broader, often includes curtains, rugs, and decorative items

  • household goods

    wider category that also covers appliances, tools, and kitchenware

  • fittings

    chiefly British English; refers to built-in items like shelves and cabinets

Grammar Patterns

furniture + singular verb

a piece of furniture

an item of furniture

Usage Note

As an uncountable noun, 'furniture' has no plural form and cannot follow 'a' or 'an'. Use 'a piece of furniture' or 'an item of furniture' for individual objects. The verb agreement stays singular: 'The furniture is old' (not 'are old').

Common Mistakes

I bought a new furniture for my room.
I bought a new piece of furniture for my room.
'Furniture' is uncountable, so you cannot put 'a' directly before it.
The furnitures in the store are cheap.
The furniture in the store is cheap.
'Furniture' has no plural form; use the singular form even when referring to many items.
Idioms

part of the furniture

idiom

Someone or something that has been in a place for so long that people stop noticing them.

After twenty years, old Mr. Chen was part of the furniture at the library.

Has that statue always been there, or is it just part of the furniture?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While 'furniture' refers to movable items like chairs, tables, and beds, 'furnishings' is a more formal term that also includes soft items such as curtains, rugs, and cushions. 'Household goods' is the broadest category, covering furniture plus appliances, cookware, and cleaning tools — nearly everything needed to run a home. 'Fittings' (chiefly British) describes built-in features like kitchen cabinets or bathroom shelves that are fixed to the walls. For example: 'The apartment comes with modern kitchen fittings but no furniture,' versus 'The store sells household goods ranging from sofas to toasters.'

furnishings ↗household goodsfittings ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • piece of furniture
  • item of furniture
  • set of furniture
  • suite of furniture
  • range of furniture

Etymology

FrenchMiddle FrenchEnglish

The word 'furniture' entered English through Middle French, from the verb 'fournir' meaning 'to provide' or 'to equip'. Originally it referred to the act of supplying provisions or equipment. By the 16th century it had shifted to mean the movable objects placed in a room to make it usable — the sense we use today.