casket: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal (in both primary senses)
Quick answer
What does “casket” mean?
A small box or chest for holding valuables, jewels, or small items.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small box or chest for holding valuables, jewels, or small items; in North American usage, a coffin.
Primarily in British English: an ornamental container for precious objects, letters, or keepsakes; a small, decorative box. Primarily in North American English: a rectangular coffin, often with a hinged lid, used for burial.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'casket' refers almost exclusively to a small decorative box. In American English, its primary meaning is 'coffin,' though it can also refer to a small box, especially in terms like 'jewel casket'.
Connotations
British: neutral/positive (treasure, heirlooms, gifts). American: solemn, funereal, often considered a more refined or euphemistic term for 'coffin'.
Frequency
The word is far more common in American English due to its use in the funeral industry. In British English, it is a less frequent, more literary or specific term for a box.
Grammar
How to Use “casket” in a Sentence
[verb] + casket (e.g., open, close, place in, carry, lower)[adjective] + casket (e.g., wooden, ornate, sealed, empty, funerary)[preposition] + casket (e.g., in a/the casket, from the casket)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “casket” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They will casket the family jewels for the exhibition.
- The ancient manuscripts were casketed in lead.
American English
- The funeral home will casket the deceased this afternoon.
- She requested to be casketed in a simple pine box.
adjective
British English
- The casket lid was inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
- A casket-sized safe was installed in the wall.
American English
- The casket industry has specific manufacturing standards.
- They selected a casket lining of silk.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
(US) Funeral industry sales; (UK) Antique/jewellery trade.
Academic
Historical/archaeological descriptions of finds.
Everyday
(US) Discussing funeral arrangements. (UK) Rare; describing an heirloom box.
Technical
(US) Mortuary science; (UK) Antique cataloguing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “casket”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “casket”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “casket”
- Using 'casket' (UK sense) to mean 'coffin' in British English (sounds odd).
- Using 'casket' casually in American English without recognizing its funereal weight.
- Misspelling as 'caskit' or 'casquet'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In American English, yes—it's a common euphemism, though technically a casket is rectangular while coffins are tapered. In British English, no; it means a small decorative box.
No, this would be confusing and incorrect. British English uses 'coffin' for burial containers. 'Casket' is understood but strongly associated with the American usage.
A casket (US) is for burial of a body. An urn is a container for cremated ashes (cremains).
Historically, it meant 'small box'. The American funeral industry in the 19th century adopted it as a softer, more refined alternative to 'coffin', which popularized the new primary meaning there.
A small box or chest for holding valuables, jewels, or small items.
Casket is usually formal (in both primary senses) in register.
Casket: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːskɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæskɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “['Pandora's casket'] (variation on 'Pandora's box')”
- “['open casket funeral/viewing'] (American funeral practice)”
- “['sealed casket'] (American funeral practice)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'cask' (a barrel for wine) + '-et' (a small suffix). A casket is a 'small barrel' for treasures (UK) or a final resting place (US).
Conceptual Metaphor
DEATH IS SLEEP (US: 'eternal rest' in a casket). TREASURE IS CONTAINED (UK: memories/jewels are kept safe in a casket).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'casket' in a primarily British English sense?