sofa

noun

so·​fa ˈsō-fə How to pronounce sofa (audio)
Synonyms of sofanext
: a long upholstered seat usually with arms and a back and often convertible into a bed

Synonyms of sofa

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of sofa in a Sentence

I curled up on the sofa with a book.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plus, the modular set includes one roomy sofa, one armchair, a large and small ottoman, and an acacia coffee table that can be configured in several layouts to suit your needs. — Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026 His Samoyed hops up and finds a spot between the athlete’s legs and the sofa’s back pillows. — Nick Remsen, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026 For those with children or pets, the performance fabric is designed to wipe clean, and the seat cushions are removable to easily clean the sofa’s frame. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026 The day area is outfitted with a simple white sofa alongside a breakfast table. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sofa

Word History

Etymology

earlier, raised carpeted floor, from Italian sofà, from Turkish sofa, from Arabic ṣuffa carpet, divan

First Known Use

1717, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sofa was in 1717

Phrases Containing sofa

Browse Nearby Words

SOF
sofa
sofa bed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sofa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sofa. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

sofa

noun
so·​fa ˈsō-fə How to pronounce sofa (audio)
: a long upholstered seat usually with arms and a back and often convertible into a bed

More from Merriam-Webster on sofa

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sofa

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All