soffit

noun

sof·​fit ˈsä-fət How to pronounce soffit (audio)
: the underside of a part or member of a building (as of an overhang or staircase)
especially : the intrados of an arch

Examples of soffit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The canopy greets visitors with the warm scent of its wood soffit while a rain chain drains the addition’s roof with aplomb. — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2026 Cockroaches also get in through soffits, gables, cracks, windows and unsealed garage doors. — Eva Flowe june 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026 When debris like leaves or bird nests blocks drainage, water can back up into your fascia, soffit or even your foundation. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026 Clean gutters regularly so water flows away from your house and doesn’t back up into the soffits and under the roofline. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soffit

Word History

Etymology

French soffite, from Italian soffitto, from Vulgar Latin *suffictus, past participle of Latin suffigere to fasten underneath — more at suffix

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soffit was in 1592

Rhymes for soffit

See All Rhymes for soffit

Browse Nearby Words

soffione
soffit
Sofia
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soffit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soffit. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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