coffin
KO-fihn
Coffin (noun) means a box in which a dead body is placed for burial. Example: “Flowers were laid on the coffin as the family said goodbye.”
noun
1
A box in which a dead body is placed for burial.
"Flowers were laid on the coffin as the family said goodbye."
"The pallbearers carried the coffin into the church."
"She chose a simple wooden coffin for her father."
"Plans to carry the Queen's coffin from Edinburgh to London by rail were scrapped in favour of travel in a Royal Air Force cargo aircraft."
— , Network News: Decision not to use Royal Train sharply divides opinion (2022)
How to use coffin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe box a body is buried in.
UK vs US
In American English, "casket" is often preferred, especially by the funeral industry; "coffin" is standard throughout the UK.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
lower the coffin
a wooden coffin
carry the coffin
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Word forms
- Plural
- coffins
- Third person singular
- coffins
- Past tense
- coffined
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Flowers were laid on the _____ as the family said goodbye.
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.
Synonyms
View more →
casket
burial box
Related words
Rhymes for coffin
See all rhymes for 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.
