coffer

1 of 2

noun

cof·​fer ˈkȯ-fər How to pronounce coffer (audio)
ˈkä-
1
: chest
Among the items at the auction was an 18th-century oak coffer.
especially : strongbox
put the money in the coffer
2
: treasury, funds
usually used in plural
… public coffers running dry in a bleak economy …Vivienne Walt and Roya Wolverson
corporate coffers
3
: a recessed panel in a vault, ceiling, or soffit
ceiling coffers

coffer

2 of 2

verb

coffered; coffering; coffers

transitive verb

1
: to store or hoard up in a coffer
coffered his military memorabilia
2
: to form (something, such as a ceiling) with recessed panels
A ceiling that is coffered will bring an added dimension to a large room.

Examples of coffer in a Sentence

Noun kept the jewels in a locked coffer let me see what's in the household coffers and I'll get back to you about making a donation
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.
Noun
Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, is still heavily reliant on hydrocarbon revenues, and low oil prices and production have hit state coffers. Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024 Baldwin is known for a vaunted constituent services program, but Republicans have hoped that Hovde could aid the party investment in the race with money from his vast personal coffers. Abc News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Officials estimate the increase will bring annual revenues to city coffers to about $15.6 million. Heather McRea, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024 Together, the state Democratic Party and the Illinois House Democrats’ campaign arm reported $5.56 million in their campaign coffers through September after spending $7.67 million in the past quarter, according to the State Board of Elections. Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for coffer 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cofre, coffre, borrowed from Anglo-French, altered (with n to r) from Latin cophinus "large basket, hamper" (sense "chest" attested in early Medieval Latin), borrowed from Greek kóphinos "large basket" — more at coffin entry 1

Verb

Middle English cofren, derivative of cofre coffer entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coffer was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near coffer

Cite this Entry

“Coffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coffer. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

coffer

noun
cof·​fer
ˈkȯ-fər,
ˈkäf-ər
1
: a box used especially to store money and valuables
2
: treasury sense 1, funds
usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on coffer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!