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
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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
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
First Known Use: 13th century
Other Economics Terms
coffer
Definition of coffer
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.
Origin and Etymology of coffer
Middle English cofren, derivative of cofre 1coffer
First Known Use: 14th century
COFFER Defined for English Language Learners
coffer
playDefinition of coffer for English Language Learners
-
: a box for holding money or other valuable things
-
coffers : money that is available for spending
COFFER Defined for Kids
coffer
playDefinition of coffer for Students
: a box used especially for holding money and valuables
Learn More about coffer
-
See words that rhyme with coffer Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for coffer Spanish Central: Translation of coffer Nglish: Translation of coffer for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of coffer for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coffer
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up coffer? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!