# coffin

/ˈkɔfɪn/ (US) · /kˈɒfɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coffin
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. for burial

noun · CEFR B1

a box that a dead person is put in before they are buried or burned.

For teachers: a rectangular or hexagonal box in which a deceased person is placed for burial or cremation.

- The pallbearers carried the heavy wooden coffin slowly into the church.
- The family selected a simple pine coffin, reflecting the modest lifestyle and environmental values of the deceased.

Teaching tip: In American English, 'casket' is often used as a softer, more polite alternative to 'coffin'.

### 2. to place in a box

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to put a dead body into a coffin.

For teachers: to place a corpse within a funerary box; often used in the passive voice.

- The body was coffined and prepared for the funeral service the next day.
- Once the body had been properly coffined, the lid was sealed in preparation for the long journey back to the family estate.

Usage: Usually transitive.

### 3. nuclear waste container

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a strong container used to store or move dangerous nuclear waste.

For teachers: a specialized, shielded container designed for the transport or long-term storage of radioactive materials.

- The nuclear waste was sealed in a lead-lined coffin for transport.
- Engineers monitored the integrity of the steel coffin to ensure no radiation leaked during the decommissioning of the reactor.

### 4. horse's hoof

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the hard, outer part of a horse's foot.

For teachers: the hollow crust or horny shell of a horse's foot below the coronet.

- The vet checked the horse's coffin bone for signs of injury.
- A deep infection within the coffin can lead to permanent lameness if not treated by a specialist farrier immediately.

Teaching tip: This sense is almost exclusively used by veterinarians and horse experts.

## Examples

- The pallbearers carried the wooden coffin into the church.
- The family chose a simple pine coffin to reflect the humble lifestyle of the deceased.
- Archaeologists discovered an ornate lead coffin within the stone sarcophagus, suggesting the occupant held a position of significant social standing in the late Roman period.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.