coffin

1 of 2

noun

cof·​fin ˈkȯ-fən 

: a box or chest for burying a corpse compare casket

coffin

2 of 2

verb

coffined; coffining; coffins

transitive verb

: to enclose in or as if in a coffin

Synonyms of coffin

Noun

• casket
• tomb

Examples of coffin in a Sentence

Noun

coffins are said to be the preferred sleeping places of vampires

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Don’t miss a sighting of a rare surviving Ba-Bird here, a wooden figure placed on top of coffins to help spirits fly away. —Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 May 2026

It was displayed on Queen Elizabeth's coffin during her funeral in September 2022. —Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026

Branwell’s coffin was carried from the house and placed next to the other family caskets. —Literary Hub, 12 May 2026

Muncy recalled thinking after the play, a nail in the coffin of another offensive dud and a 7-2 loss. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 11 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cofyn, coffyn "basket, hamper" (in translations from Latin), "chest, box," borrowed from Anglo-French cofin, coffin "basket, chest, container," borrowed from Latin cophinus "large basket, hamper," borrowed from Greek kóphinos "large basket," of pre-Greek substratal origin

Verb

derivative of coffin entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1525, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1564, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing coffin

• a nail in the/someone's coffin
• coffin bone
• coffin corner
• coffin nail

Rhymes for coffin

• boffin
• offen
• often
• soften

Kids Definition

coffin

noun

cof·​fin

ˈkȯ-fən

: a box or case to hold a dead body