coffin
2 synonyms for coffin, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A box in which a dead body is placed for burial.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
burial box
How to use coffin
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
lower the coffin
a wooden coffin
carry the coffin
Etymology
From Old French cofin, "basket" or "box," from Latin cophinus, itself from Greek kophinos, "a basket." It originally meant any box or case before narrowing to its current burial sense.
Full origin of coffin →Frequently asked questions
What does “coffin” mean?
The word “coffin” means a box in which a dead body is placed for burial. In plain terms, the box a body is buried in.
How do you pronounce “coffin”?
“Coffin” is pronounced KO-fihn (/ˈkɔfɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “coffin” in a sentence?
Here is “coffin” used in a sentence: “The pallbearers carried the coffin into the church.”
What part of speech is “coffin”?
“Coffin” is a noun.
Where does the word “coffin” come from?
The word “coffin” comes from Latin. From Old French cofin, "basket" or "box," from Latin cophinus, itself from Greek kophinos, "a basket." It originally meant any box or case before narrowing to its current burial sense.
Is “coffin” a common word?
“Coffin” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a coffin and a casket?
A coffin traditionally has a tapered, six-sided shape that is wider at the shoulders and narrower at the feet, while a casket is typically rectangular with a hinged lid. Both are boxes used to hold a body for burial, but the terms describe different shapes and are sometimes used loosely as synonyms.
What is the difference between a coffin and a sarcophagus?
A coffin is a box, often made of wood, in which a body is placed for burial, while a sarcophagus is typically a stone container, often elaborately carved, historically used to hold a coffin or the body itself. A sarcophagus is generally larger, heavier, and more decorative than a standard coffin.
