coaster

American  

[koh-ster] / ˈkoʊ stər /

noun

1. a person or thing that coasts.

2. a small dish, tray, or mat, especially for placing under a glass to protect a table from moisture.

3. a ship engaged in coastwise trade.

4. a sled for coasting.

5. a tray for holding a decanter to be passed around a dining table.

6. roller coaster.

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coaster ¹ British  

/ ˈkəʊstə /

noun

1. a vessel or trader engaged in coastal commerce

2. a small tray, sometimes on wheels, for holding a decanter, wine bottle, etc

3. a person or thing that coasts

4. a protective disc or mat for glasses or bottles

5. short for roller coaster

6. a European resident on the coast

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Coaster ² British  

/ ˈkəʊstə /

noun

1. a person from the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand

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Etymology

Origin of coaster

First recorded in 1565–75; coast + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The weekend’s haul likely comes as a relief to theater owners, who have weathered a roller coaster year.

From Los Angeles Times

But we can’t know the true state of the economy for 2026, given the roller coaster of data related to the changing tariff situation throughout the year.

From Barron's

“We expect this roller coaster has many twists and turns and the winner will reshape the media landscape as we know it by integrating some of the most iconic studio and streaming assets,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Their decision to list the home again marks the latest twist in what has been a roller coaster real estate ride for the property, which Alec, 67, purchased for just $1.75 million in 1995.

From MarketWatch

These Etsy coasters “were made by someone’s hands, not a machine. There’s love in there.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• plate