coffee-table

1 of 2

adjective

cof·​fee-ta·​ble ˈkȯ-fē-ˌtā-bəl 

ˈkä-

: of, relating to, or being an article (such as a book or magazine) intended for display (as on a coffee table)

coffee table

2 of 2

noun

: a low table customarily placed in front of a sofa

called also cocktail table

Examples of coffee-table in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

To start, there must be thousands of books around the property—coffee-table tomes about nature, volumes of Dickens, some mystery novels for good measure—filling shelves in every guest room, up to the balcony reading nook in the main lodge. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026

Sometime in the mid-sixties, Sam brought home a coffee-table book about astrology, and Linda became consumed by it, launching into a self-education that approached mania. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Noun

Inside, antique art hangs on walls, tamgroute (local pottery) lines small alcoves, board games are stacked inside cupboards, and coffee table books have plenty to dive into. — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2026

Mail and Paper Piles Leaving mail and stacks of paper on coffee tables, console tables, and end tables is distracting and causes a conflict between relaxation and productive tasks, which Lee notes are two things that don't go together. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1962, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coffee-table

• eatable
• treatable
• depletable
• repeatable
• unbeatable

Kids Definition

coffee table

noun

: a low table usually placed in front of a sofa