coffer

American  

[kaw-fer, kof-er] / ˈkɔ fər, ˈkɒf ər /

noun

1. a box or chest, especially one for valuables.

2. coffers, a treasury; funds.

   The coffers of the organization were rapidly filled by the contributions.

3. any of various boxlike enclosures, as a cofferdam.

4. Also called caisson, lacunar. Architecture. one of a number of sunken panels, usually square or octagonal, in a vault, ceiling, or soffit.

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verb (used with object)

1. to deposit or lay up in or as in a coffer or chest.

2. to ornament with coffers or sunken panels.

coffer British  

/ ˈkɒfə /

noun

1. a chest, esp for storing valuables

2. (usually plural) a store of money

3. Also called: caisson, lacuna. an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling, dome, etc

4. a watertight box or chamber

5. 1. short for cofferdam

   2. a recessed panel in a concrete, metal, or timber soffit

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verb

1. to store, as in a coffer

2. to decorate (a ceiling, dome, etc) with coffers

Other Word Forms

• cofferlike
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of coffer

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English cofre, from Old French, ultimately from Latin cophinus “basket”; see coffin

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Explanation

A coffer is a small safe or lockbox that's meant for keeping precious or valuable items safe. Your grandfather might keep his important papers in a coffer in his study. You can keep your heirlooms, jewels, and savings bonds in a coffer, a safe chest for tucking such things safely away. Coffer takes on a figurative meaning when you talk about the coffers of a large institution: "There's plenty of money in the government coffers — they just don't want to spend it on education!" Yet another meaning of the word is "decorative sunken panel in a ceiling," such as one you'd see in a mosque, museum, or cathedral ceiling.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coffer

These decks were luxury goods used to impress those accustomed to luxury, a taste of which we get through objects like a gilded coffer and a handsomely carved ivory box.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

Yiu is the best-funded candidate in the race, with more than $1 million in her coffer — much of which came from her own pocket, according to California secretary of state records.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 1, 2024

They erected a temporary wooden coffer dam in 1907 at the lake’s mouth, raising the water by 10 feet — just enough to make the existing road unusable.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 8, 2022

When Sara “Future Opponent” Gideon won the Democratic primary in July 2020, the coffer was up to $4.1 million, most of which went to Gideon’s campaign.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 1, 2020

“It’s very old looking. Been robbing the royal coffer, have you?”

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

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Related Words

• exchequer
• treasury
• war chest

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