coin box: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “coin box” mean?
A container, typically with a slot, designed to receive and hold coins deposited as payment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A container, typically with a slot, designed to receive and hold coins deposited as payment.
A public or private receptacle for coin collection, such as those found on vending machines, parking meters, payphones, or for charity. Can also refer to a small, locked box used for storing loose change.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Cash box' might be a more general alternative in both dialects. The term is equally understood.
Connotations
Neutral/functional. Associated with machines, public transport, or charity collection.
Frequency
Medium frequency in both variants. Use has declined with the advent of contactless/card payments but remains relevant for specific contexts (e.g., laundromats, some vending machines).
Grammar
How to Use “coin box” in a Sentence
the coin box of [NOUN]a coin box for [NOUN/GERUND]insert [coins/money] into the coin boxVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the removable cash container in coin-operated amusement or vending equipment.
Academic
Might appear in historical or sociological texts discussing the technology of payment systems.
Everyday
Used when referring to parking meters, old payphones, laundry machines, or donation boxes.
Technical
A component in a mechanism that registers payments, often with counting or locking features.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coin box”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coin box”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coin box”
- Using 'coin box' to refer to a piggy bank for personal saving (though not entirely wrong, 'money box' is more common). Confusing it with 'cash register'. Spelling as one word 'coinbox' (should be two words or hyphenated: coin-box).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most commonly written as two separate words ('coin box'). It can also be hyphenated ('coin-box'), especially when used as a modifier before a noun (e.g., 'coin-box slot').
A 'piggy bank' is typically for personal, private saving, often ceramic or plastic, and shaped like an animal or object. A 'coin box' is more functional, often part of a public machine or a plain container for commercial collection.
No, 'coin box' is not used as a verb. The action is 'to insert coins into the coin box' or 'to deposit coins'.
Their use has declined with the rise of digital and card payments. However, they are still found in specific contexts like laundromats, some vending machines, older parking systems, and as charity collection points.
A container, typically with a slot, designed to receive and hold coins deposited as payment.
Coin box is usually neutral in register.
Coin box: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔɪn ˌbɒks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔɪn ˌbɑːks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The charity shook the coin box to count the donations.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BOX where you put your COINs. Simple.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR VALUE (coins as stored value).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to have a 'coin box'?