coffee-table

1 of 2

adjective

cof·​fee-ta·​ble ˈkȯ-fē-ˌtā-bəl How to pronounce coffee-table (audio)
ˈkä-
: of, relating to, or being an article (such as a book or magazine) intended for display (as on a coffee table)

coffee table

2 of 2

noun

: a low table customarily placed in front of a sofa

called also cocktail table

Examples of coffee-table in a Sentence

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.
Adjective
Its allure is lauded in Roma Eterna (Eternal Rome), a swanky and sizable (10-by-13-inch, 320-page, five-pound) coffee-table book, brand-new this month from luxury publisher Assouline. Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 From Paris to Osaka to St. Louis, a new coffee-table book collects the Japanese architect’s bright, delicate designs, photographed by Richard Pare Over 50 years ago, Tadao Ando watched people at prayer within Le Corbusier’s Notre-Dame du Haut, a Roman Catholic chapel. Air Mail, 21 June 2025
Noun
The first contains an Ingrid Donat coffee table with a pair of Venini crystal vases designed by Marino, decoratively placed on top. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 11 July 2025 Try placing them on a gold tray with a few sprigs of eucalyptus or pairing them with a stack of coffee table books for an effortless look. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for coffee-table

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1962, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coffee-table was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Coffee-table.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coffee-table. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

coffee table

noun
: a low table usually placed in front of a sofa
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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