coffee table

American  

noun

• coffee tables
  plural

1. a low table, usually placed in front of a sofa, for holding ashtrays, snack bowls, glasses, magazines, etc.

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coffee table British  

noun

1. a low table, on which newspapers, etc, may be placed and coffee served

2. (modifier) implying an emphasis on appearance and style over substance

   coffee-table music

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• coffee tables
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of coffee table

First recorded in 1875–80

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coffee table

“Not that many people want coffee table art books,” said Margit Novack, founding president of the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers, a professional group helping older adults organize, declutter, downsize and relocate.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

The company pivoted to a game suitable for display on a coffee table, modeled after the Vintage Bookshelf line, but larger.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

My coffee table is made of aluminum and resembles barbed wire.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Simply put: When putting together your dinner party menu, don’t consult that one unopened cookbook that’s been collecting dust on your coffee table.

From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026

Valentina trucks into the living room space, which still has sheet-covered shapes of what I’m guessing are a couch, chair, and coffee table.

From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone

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