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Definition of coffin
coffin
/ˈkɔː.fɪn/
cof · fin
Plural:coffins
•Past Simple:coffined
•Past Participle:coffined
•Present Participle:coffining
coffin Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
4
Tier
1
Usage
Top 5k
coffin Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A long, narrow box, typically made of wood, in which a dead body is placed for burial or cremation.
Example
"The pallbearers stepped forward to lift the heavy oak coffin and carry it down the aisle of the church."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for coffin• verb
1
To place a dead body into a coffin.
Example
"The fallen soldier was respectfully washed and coffined before the family arrived to pay their final respects."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for coffin Antonyms
View all antonyms for coffinWord Nuance & Usage
In North American English, a distinction is often made between a 'coffin' (which traditionally has six sides and is wider at the shoulders) and a 'casket' (which is rectangular with four sides).
• Rhymes for coffin
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Middle English: from Old French 'cofin' (little basket), from Latin 'cophinus', from Greek 'kophinos' (basket).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Coffin. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/coffin