cofferdam
noun
cof·fer·dam
ˈkȯ-fər-ˌdam 
ˈkä-
1
: a watertight enclosure from which water is pumped to expose the bottom of a body of water and permit construction (as of a pier)
2
: a watertight structure for making repairs below the waterline of a ship
Examples of cofferdam in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The first phase of work will consist of design and testing of a cofferdam system.
—
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2024
Nowadays, a project like this would use a cofferdam: a temporary, watertight enclosure that can be pumped dry to provide an open and safe site for construction.
—Ari Perez, The Conversation, 10 June 2024
In order to get that block in place, Morrison said, crews will build a temporary cofferdam to isolate and protect the rest of the river from the sections being reinforced.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2024
Chuck Lee, a supervisor in the dam safety unit, said the agency was issuing an emergency contract for the construction of a cofferdam — essentially a dam in front of the dam.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2024
With a cofferdam in place, the area in front of the dam can be drained and engineers can make a more detailed assessment of the damage and threat.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2024
That included the construction of a huge temporary cofferdam to divert the thundering water from the building site.
—Laura Randall, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2022
The $11 million project began in August 2016 with the construction of a cofferdam to surround the battleship which allowed crews to drain the river water and have access to the ship’s brittle hull.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 21 July 2021
If the plan goes through, all the water from the American side of the falls will temporarily be diverted to Horseshoe Falls in Canada using a cofferdam.
—Popular Mechanics, 25 Jan. 2016
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Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2024
Nowadays, a project like this would use a cofferdam: a temporary, watertight enclosure that can be pumped dry to provide an open and safe site for construction.
—Ari Perez, The Conversation, 10 June 2024
In order to get that block in place, Morrison said, crews will build a temporary cofferdam to isolate and protect the rest of the river from the sections being reinforced.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2024
Chuck Lee, a supervisor in the dam safety unit, said the agency was issuing an emergency contract for the construction of a cofferdam — essentially a dam in front of the dam.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2024
With a cofferdam in place, the area in front of the dam can be drained and engineers can make a more detailed assessment of the damage and threat.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2024
That included the construction of a huge temporary cofferdam to divert the thundering water from the building site.
—Laura Randall, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2022
The $11 million project began in August 2016 with the construction of a cofferdam to surround the battleship which allowed crews to drain the river water and have access to the ship’s brittle hull.
—From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 21 July 2021
If the plan goes through, all the water from the American side of the falls will temporarily be diverted to Horseshoe Falls in Canada using a cofferdam.
—Popular Mechanics, 25 Jan. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Cofferdam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cofferdam. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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