coffin

1 of 2

noun

cof·​fin ˈkȯ-fən How to pronounce coffin (audio)
Synonyms of coffinnext
: a box or chest for burying a corpse compare casket

coffin

2 of 2

verb

coffined; coffining; coffins

transitive verb

: to enclose in or as if in a coffin

Synonyms of coffin

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Noun

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Examples of coffin in a Sentence

Noun coffins are said to be the preferred sleeping places of vampires
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Noun
Unfortunately, the isolated CEO sees the same thing, except their nail is in their own career coffin. — Liam Chrismer, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 In the mid-nineteenth century, the abolitionist Henrietta Bowers Duterte operated an Underground Railroad stop in her Philadelphia funeral home, hiding fugitive slaves in coffins. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 As Diana’s coffin passed by the queen on September 6, the day of her funeral, the monarch—who bows to no one—bowed her head deeply for the Princess of Wales in a sign of respect for Diana and her life tragically cut short. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 28 July 2026 The county told the court that labels may have fallen off containers of remains, remains may have spilled due to shifting soil or water may have leaked into the coffin, according to Zepeda-Lara. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for coffin

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cofyn, coffyn "basket, hamper" (in translations from Latin), "chest, box," borrowed from Anglo-French cofin, coffin "basket, chest, container," borrowed from Latin cophinus "large basket, hamper," borrowed from Greek kóphinos "large basket," of pre-Greek substratal origin

Verb

derivative of coffin entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1525, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1564, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coffin was in 1525

Phrases Containing coffin

Rhymes for coffin

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Browse Nearby Words

cofferfish
coffin
coffin bone
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coffin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coffin. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

coffin

noun
cof·​fin
ˈkȯ-fən
: a box or case to hold a dead body

More from Merriam-Webster on coffin

Nglish: Translation of coffin for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coffin

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