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

The challenge now is helping people overcome barriers to outdoor activity, such as safety concerns, fear of falling, or simply preferring the comfort of the sofa – particularly during wetter, colder months.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

It is not the first time the studio's red sofa has been out on the road.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Instead, Lisa lay down on a sofa and spoke from the heart.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

“We all have the experience of finishing the day, relaxing on the sofa, watching videos and clicking ‘buy’ without thinking too much about it,” said Vivien Huang, Reckitt’s director of marketing in China.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Uncle Ty’s knocked out cold on our living-room sofa.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

The brigade command post in Mykilske, where Stupnikov often sat behind a set of screens, was decked out with chairs, sofas, carpets and large-screen televisions looted from local homes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Anecdotes and analysis are interspersed with photos of all sorts of sofas and couches, calling into question ideas about where and how we find respite and support — or not.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

"They each have a bowl of popcorn and treats and we move the sofas into two rows so it's like a cinema."

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 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

Sitting rooms spill over with tipsy sofas and moth-eaten covers, and the furniture is piled high with old-fashioned post-balloons, buckets, house-lanterns, drapery, older télétropes, bolts of lace, half-burned candles, broken spyglasses, ear-trumpets, and more.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

sofa

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Random Word

Related Words