cooler

1 of 2

noun

cool·​er ˈkü-lər 

1

: one that cools: such as

a

: a container for cooling liquids

b

: refrigerator

2

: lockup, jail

especially : a cell for violent or unmanageable prisoners

3

: an iced drink usually with an alcoholic beverage as a base

cooler

2 of 2

comparative of cool entry 1

Synonyms of cooler

Noun

• penitentiary
• jail
• prison

Examples of cooler in a Sentence

Noun

The sodas are in the cooler.

plea-bargained to avoid spending time in the cooler

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s now a dual-stage air-to-water charge cooler that lowers temperatures from the variable-geometry turbo. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026

Backpack Cooler For a smaller crew, or a hike through the fall foliage, a backpack cooler is your best bet. — Red Fabbri, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2026

All anybody in New York can talk about this morning—from the water cooler to the group chats—is how abruptly summer ended and fall announced itself. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026

By Tuesday, highs will be about 20 degrees cooler in cities like Evansville, with afternoon temperatures peaking in the upper 70s. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

cool entry 2 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cooler

• cooler heads prevail
• evaporative cooler
• the cooler
• wine cooler

Rhymes for cooler

• ruler
• schooler
• schuller
• preschooler
• vestibular

Kids Definition

cooler

noun

cool·​er ˈkü-lər 

: a container for keeping food or drink cool