soffit

noun

sof·​fit ˈsä-fət How to pronounce soffit (audio)
: the underside of a part or member of a building (as of an overhang or staircase)
especially : the intrados of an arch

Examples of soffit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In addition, good airflow from under the eaves or soffit area along the underside of the roof and out through the roof vents is essential. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Clean gutters regularly so water flows away from your house and doesn’t back up into the soffits and under the roofline. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 30 June 2025 The stand can be used on a desktop or mounted on a wall, ceiling, or soffit and adjusted for the ideal viewing angle. PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025 Wasp nests are most commonly found under door frames, roof soffits or under porches and balconies. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for soffit

Word History

Etymology

French soffite, from Italian soffitto, from Vulgar Latin *suffictus, past participle of Latin suffigere to fasten underneath — more at suffix

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soffit was in 1592

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Cite this Entry

“Soffit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soffit. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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