sofa

noun

so·​fa ˈsō-fə How to pronounce sofa (audio)
Synonyms of sofanext
: a long upholstered seat usually with arms and a back and often convertible into a bed

Examples of sofa in a Sentence

I curled up on the sofa with a book.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bills are being paid late, the practice is a frightening level of untidiness, there’s a miniature horse in the study, and Siegfried is passed out on the sofa with some loose woman under a trench coat beside him. Alice Burton, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026 Instead, look for a sofa that offers more structure, Kalish encourages. Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026 Kumail Nanjiani caught up with his Fallout co-star Aaron Moten while Shari Belafonte from The Morning Show surveyed the scene from a plush gold sofa, waving to Victoria Tate. Rachel Marlowe, Vanity Fair, 11 Jan. 2026 Muhsin Mirzoashrafov’s family was getting ready to go out just before noon when the infant climbed over the living room sofa and fell through the window, the report stated. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sofa

Word History

Etymology

earlier, raised carpeted floor, from Italian sofà, from Turkish sofa, from Arabic ṣuffa carpet, divan

First Known Use

1717, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sofa was in 1717

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sofa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sofa. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

sofa

noun
so·​fa ˈsō-fə How to pronounce sofa (audio)
: a long upholstered seat usually with arms and a back and often convertible into a bed

More from Merriam-Webster on sofa

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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