coffer

noun cof·fer \ ˈkȯ-fər , ˈkä- \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: coffer in a Sentence

Definition of coffer

1 : chest

Among the items at the auction was an 18th-century oak coffer.

; especially : strongbox

put the money in the coffer

2 : treasury, funds —usually used in plural

… public coffers running dry in a bleak economy …
—Vivienne Walt and Roya Wolverson

corporate coffers

3 : a recessed panel in a vault, ceiling, or soffit

ceiling coffers

See coffer defined for English-language learners

See coffer defined for kids

Examples of coffer in a Sentence

kept the jewels in a locked coffer
let me see what's in the household coffers and I'll get back to you about making a donation

Recent Examples of coffer from the Web

Then Jordan’s alleged connection to the Ohio State investigation into a former athletic doctor, Richard Strauss, who allegedly groped student-athletes across 14 sports, gave donors more reason to fill Garrett’s coffers.

— tara golshan, Vox, "Meet the Democrat trying to unseat scandal-plagued Rep. Jim Jordan in his heavily Republican district," 11 July 2018
Publicity about the financial plight brought in enough donations to fund trips last September and in May — the group’s 18th and 19th — but now the coffers are low again, according to Saundra Cima, an Honor Flight official.

— john wilkens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Honor Flight for war vets in danger of being grounded again," 10 July 2018
Policy that fills public coffers, while allowing millions to have some (legal) fun.

— sean gregory, Time, "The Risks and Rewards of the Supreme Court’s Sports Gambling Decision," 17 May 2018
State coffers in Massachusetts and beyond are enjoying an unexpected windfall in revenue that experts attribute in part to the federal tax overhaul President Trump signed into law in December.

— joshua miller and matt stout, BostonGlobe.com, "Mass. Legislature could strengthen Charlie Baker’s hand with budget delay," 12 July 2018
The empty coffers meant that Faraday Future, which Jia treats like a subsidiary of LeEco, had to back out of its ambitious plan to build a $1 billion factory in the Nevada desert.

— sean o'kane, The Verge, "Faraday Future reveals the source of its $2 billion investment as a co-founder steps away," 26 June 2018
If no rightful heir was ever determined, the funds would be deposited into a general state coffer under Illinois law.

— jason meisner, chicagotribune.com, "Genealogical investigation uncovers 10 heirs of famed Chicago street photographer Vivian Maier," 26 June 2018
Its backers, however, point to overflowing state coffers as evidence that SB 1 was unnecessary.

— alexei koseff, sacbee, "What you need to know about California's gas tax repeal initiative," 25 June 2018
Thursday’s ruling should benefit local coffers as well, at least where local sales taxes are collected at the state level.

— adam liptak, New York Times, "Supreme Court Widens Reach of Sales Tax for Online Retailers," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coffer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of coffer

Middle English cofre, coffre, borrowed from Anglo-French, altered (with n to r) from Latin cophinus "large basket, hamper" (sense "chest" attested in early Medieval Latin), borrowed from Greek kóphinos "large basket" — more at ¹coffin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

coffer Synonyms

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

coffer

verb

Definition of coffer

coffered; coffering; coffers

transitive verb

1 : to store or hoard up in a coffer

coffered his military memorabilia

2 : to form (something, such as a ceiling) with recessed panels

A ceiling that is coffered will bring an added dimension to a large room.

Recent Examples of coffer from the Web

As a bonus, the clubhouse — with its French doors, white coffered ceiling and charming veranda — might be the finest of any public course in the country.

— carlos monarrez, Detroit Free Press, "Top 10 metro Detroit public golf courses for 2018," 6 July 2018
The red oak flooring found throughout the main level complements the wood paneling that is used on the walls and coffered ceiling.

— james alexander, courant.com, "Property of the Week: 20 Barnes Hill Road, Burlington," 11 Jan. 2018
The office’s coffered ceiling and wainscoting are made of cherry, a warm complement to the hardwood floor.

— joan walden, courant.com, "Property of the Week: 3 Erica Lane, West Simsbury," 20 July 2017
Don’t miss the Q restaurant and bar, with its coffered ceiling, gold and purple accents and portraits of Queen Victoria.

— New York Times, "36 Hours in Victoria, British Columbia," 12 Apr. 2018
Nef’s birthday look glimmered similarly–a stunning floor-length gold Gucci gown (with a matching tiara, of course) looked right at home underneath the Campbell’s ornate Florentine coffered ceiling.

— rachel hahn, Vogue, "Uptown Glamour Meets Downtown Cool at Hari Nef’s Opulent Grand Central 25th Birthday Bash," 24 Oct. 2017
The chandelier still hangs in the center of the auditorium's coffered ceiling.

— carol motsinger, Cincinnati.com, "These 7,000 crystals sparkle in a new way above a renovated Music Hall," 29 Sep. 2017
Sold by its heirs in the early 1980s, Adare Manor reopened in 1988 as a country house hotel with the kind of architectural frippery in sculptural embellishments and coffered ceilings that make an audience of guests.

— elaine glusac, New York Times, "In Europe and Canada, New Looks for Classic Hotels," 13 Sep. 2017
The biggest thing on her mind was the extra $200 million that was expected to pour into the county coffers a year from junkies like me.

— dahleen glanton, chicagotribune.com, "Soda tax halt in Cook County is halting habit changes," 10 July 2017