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.

See Examples For:

sofa sofas

"We'll take the sofa out of the Look North studio and try to push it 80 miles across Yorkshire with a specially-designed trolley," Amy said.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Basic black boxes became a desk, a sofa, or a hospital bed, with additional touches like Macaria’s ofrenda for her dead husband.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

"They're the ones that are actually sleeping under the stars – not sofa surfing or in caravans or anything, they're actually rough sleeping," she says.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

It portrays the young woman in a white gown, seated on a sofa inside a room with red walls adorned with paintings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

After we finish eating, Ana leaps onto the sofa and bangs a spoon against a glass.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

After a brief stay in council emergency accommodation, she said they spent a year sleeping on the sofas and floors of people she had met in Margate.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

Although the company never spells it out explicitly, Birkin collectors say that shoppers who buy $100,000 sofas and $20,000 watches get offered the bags first.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

One of the home’s more fascinating features is a sunken conversation pit lined with sumptuous sofas in the living room.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

Television characters sitting around having conversations on sofas has served prolific producer Chuck Lorre very well.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

Inside, red velvet fills their apartment, spilling over two fat sofas and two big armchairs, the kind that look like they would be fun to jump on.

From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau

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