cooler

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

Synonyms of cooler

• penitentiary
• jail
• prison

Examples of cooler in a Sentence

The sodas are in the cooler.

plea-bargained to avoid spending time in the cooler

Recent Examples on the Web

Place bird baths in part shade during summer to keep water cooler; move them to sunnier spots in winter to combat freezing. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026

Pre-chilling your cooler and its contents, layering ice strategically, and packing food properly can all help keep everything colder for longer. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026

Andrew Garfield, what an actor – tall, lanky, a little cooler than Toby, but such heart. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Two coolers, three standing coolers and a walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer, all filled with food, had to be thrown away after the center lost power for 14 hours. — Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 29 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

cool entry 2 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cooler

• cooler heads prevail
• 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