cooler

1 of 2

noun

cool·​er ˈkü-lər How to pronounce cooler (audio)
Synonyms of coolernext
1
: one that cools: such as
a
: a container for cooling liquids
b
: refrigerator
2
: lockup, jail
especially : a cell for violent or unmanageable prisoners
3
: an iced drink usually with an alcoholic beverage as a base

cooler

2 of 2

comparative of cool entry 1

Synonyms of cooler

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Noun

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Examples of cooler in a Sentence

Noun The sodas are in the cooler. plea-bargained to avoid spending time in the cooler
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Noun
None of my companions, mostly ocean-curious thirty-something Californians from the Bay and beyond, have been urchin foraging before, but their coolers and bags are soon brimming. — Joseph Ogilvy, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026 Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza brought with her a red cooler of chicken and pork tamales and a spork. — Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026 Walk-in cooler does not keep food items at 41 degrees or below. — Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026 Stew containing meat was stored in the soup warmer and two bags of meat mixture stored in the two-door cooler. — Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cooler

Word History

Etymology

Noun

cool entry 2 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cooler was circa 1550

Phrases Containing cooler

Rhymes for cooler

See All Rhymes for cooler

Browse Nearby Words

cooldown
cooler
cooler heads prevail
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cooler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cooler. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cooler

noun
cool·​er ˈkü-lər How to pronounce cooler (audio)
: a container for keeping food or drink cool
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