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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.

Early on in the show, Kirkwood beamed as she left her weather station to join Nugent and Kay on the sofa in a white dress.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

My room was large, with a sectional sofa, two TVs and a balcony overlooking the pool with partial views of the Strip.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

"What was really bizarre about this scene was there was not only a young woman barely alive on the sofa, but there was a wheelbarrow in the living room."

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

If an American furniture retailer pays a Chinese trading company $300 for a sofa subject to a 50% tariff, it would normally declare that value and owe U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

I retrieve Helen’s cardigan and then flop onto the retiring room sofa while the girls around me eat sandwiches and exchange glances over my prone body.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.