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Definitions

sofa

[soh-fuh] / ˈsoʊ fə /
NOUN
couch
Synonyms
STRONGEST
love seat settee
STRONG
chesterfield davenport daybed divan futon ottoman
WEAK
chaise longue convertible couch sofa bed window seat

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for a sofa?
Sofa is famously interchangeable with the word couch. More on that in the next section. A love seat is a kind of small sofa or large chair that seats about two people. A similar piece of furniture is sometimes called a chair-and-a-half.  Less commonly, a small sofa can be called a two-seater or, more fancily, a tête-à-tête or a vis-à-vis. These last two terms are especially used to refer to S-shaped sofas that allow two people to sit facing each other. An upholstered seat for two or more people can be called a settee. The word chesterfield can specifically refer to a large, overstuffed sofa with a tall back and arms. In Canada, it’s simply used to refer to a large sofa. A divan is a sofa that doesn’t have an arm or back. A type of sofa without arms (and sometimes without a back) that’s specifically for reclining can be called a chaise, chaise lounge, or simply lounge. A davenport is another kind of large sofa, especially one that can be converted into a bed. Other terms for sofas that can convert into beds are sofa bed, pull-out sofa, convertible sofa, convertible couch, and sleeper sofa. A daybed is one that can be used as a sofa or a bed at different times. A futon has the same function, but it’s basically a big mattress that folds in half to be a couch.
What is the difference between a sofa and a couch?
Couch comes from the Old French word couche, meaning “bed.” Sofa comes from the Arabic word suffah, meaning “a platform used as a seat.” But the differences in origin don’t affect how they’re used today. People have different preferences about which word they use, and some people use both, but they mean the same thing. A piece of upholstered furniture that seats two or more people, often with a back and at least one arm. Calling a piece of furniture a sofa or a couch implies that it’s upholstered and at least somewhat cushiony. A similar piece of furniture that’s not upholstered (one that’s just wooden, for example) would just be called a bench.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The couple had propaganda posters from the German Democratic Republic above their sofa, perhaps because his now wife, who had been to East Germany, considered it a workers’ mecca.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

"Really scared" Pearl unlocked her mum's phone, dialled 999 and told call handler Gen Hinds: "She's lying on the sofa… she's not awake. Her eyes keep on opening and closing."

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Once he settles on the sofa beside me, McKellen vacillates between performative storytelling and genuine reflection.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

He said he was on the sofa watching rugby and saw the players "falling off the screen", so headed to the hospital where doctors told him he had a brain aneurysm "that started to leak".

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Beneath the miles and miles of petticoats I was wearing to fill out my shiny green skirt, I shuffled my boots and tried to get comfortable on the stiff sofa.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan