# coupon

/ˈkjuˌpɔn/ (US) · /kˈuːpɒn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coupon
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. shopping discount

noun · CEFR B1

a piece of paper or a digital code that gives you a lower price on a product.

For teachers: a voucher or digital token issued by a manufacturer or retailer that entitles the holder to a discount on a specific purchase.

- I cut a coupon out of the newspaper to get a dollar off my favorite cereal.
- The marketing department distributed digital coupons via social media to incentivize first-time customers to complete their online orders.

### 2. ticket or voucher

noun · CEFR B2

a part of a ticket that shows you have the right to a seat or a service.

For teachers: a detachable part of a ticket or document that serves as proof of entitlement to a specific service, seat, or travel route.

- The travel agent gave us a coupon for a free dinner at the hotel.
- The rail pass included several coupons for regional bus transfers, which had to be validated by the driver upon boarding.

### 3. bond interest

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the interest payment made on a bond.

For teachers: the annual interest rate paid on a bond, expressed as a percentage of the face value.

- The bond pays a five percent coupon every six months.
- Investors were attracted to the high-yield corporate bonds despite the risks, primarily due to the attractive semi-annual coupon payments.

Usage: Often used as an attributive noun in 'coupon rate'.

### 4. material sample

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small piece of material used for testing.

For teachers: a small specimen of a material, such as metal, used for laboratory testing to determine the properties or corrosion rate of the bulk material.

- The engineer placed a steel coupon in the saltwater to test for rust.
- Corrosion coupons were extracted from the pipeline after six months to evaluate the effectiveness of the new chemical inhibitors.

### 5. to collect vouchers

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to spend a lot of time looking for and using discount vouchers.

For teachers: to engage in the systematic collection and redemption of coupons to maximize savings.

- She managed to save fifty dollars this week because she started couponing.
- The rise of extreme couponing has led many retailers to tighten their policies regarding the stacking of multiple discounts.

## Examples

- I have a coupon for a free coffee.
- The supermarket sent out a book of coupons to encourage local residents to try their new organic produce section.
- While digital marketing has largely replaced physical mailers, many retailers still find that a physical coupon can significantly increase foot traffic during seasonal sales events.

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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.