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Definition of coach

coach

/koʊtʃ/
coach

Plural:coaches
•
Past Simple:coached
•
Past Participle:coached
•
Present Participle:coaching
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coach Lexical Profile

coach Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An instructor or trainer in sports, academic subjects, or professional development.

Example

"The tennis coach pushed the players to improve their serves."


2

British A comfortably equipped single-decker bus used for longer journeys.

Example

"We took an overnight coach from London to Edinburgh."


3

North American The lowest-cost or economy seating class on a commercial passenger airplane or train.

Example

"She decided to fly coach to save money on her trip across the country."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for coach

• verb

1

To train, instruct, or direct a person or team in a sport or physical activity.

Example

"He coached the high school basketball team to the state championships."


2

To provide professional advice and guidance to help someone achieve personal or career goals.

Example

"The consultant was hired to coach junior executives on effective leadership strategies."


3

To give someone extra teaching or tutoring in a specific academic subject.

Example

"She coached him in mathematics to help him pass the demanding entrance exam."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for coach

Word Nuance & Usage

In British English, 'coach' typically refers to a long-distance bus, whereas in North American English, it frequently denotes the economy seating class on an airplane or train.

• Rhymes for coach

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from Middle French 'coche', from German 'Kutsche', ultimately from Hungarian 'kocsi' (meaning 'of Kocs', a village where prominent horse-drawn carriages were made in the 15th century). The sense of 'tutor' or 'trainer' arose in the 1830s as Oxford University slang for a private tutor who 'carried' a student through an exam.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Coach. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/coach
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