coin-operated: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal/Neutral
Quick answer
What does “coin-operated” mean?
Designed to function when coins are inserted as payment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Designed to function when coins are inserted as payment; operated by coins.
Can metaphorically describe systems, behaviors, or processes that require immediate, tangible payment or incentive to function.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept identical. Slight preference in British English for hyphenated compound, while American English may sometimes use 'coin operated' (less common). The term 'coin-op' (noun) is more common in casual American English.
Connotations
Connotes simplicity, automation, and public accessibility. Can have a slightly dated feel, associated with mid-20th century technology, though still perfectly current.
Frequency
More frequent in descriptions of public amenities (laundries, lockers) than in high-tech contexts, where 'token-operated', 'card-operated', or 'contactless' might be used.
Grammar
How to Use “coin-operated” in a Sentence
coin-operated + NOUNVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coin-operated” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- We had to use the coin-operated locker at the railway station.
- The museum has a charming, coin-operated model railway.
American English
- I need quarters for the coin-operated laundry.
- The old coin-operated telescope on the pier still works.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describing a low-overhead, automated revenue model for public services.
Academic
Used in historical/technological studies of automation and consumer society.
Everyday
Describing laundromats, public toilets, arcades, or luggage lockers.
Technical
Specifying the activation mechanism of a device or system.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coin-operated”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coin-operated”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coin-operated”
- Writing as one word 'coinoperated' (incorrect) or forgetting the hyphen.
- Using it predictively: *'The machine is coin-operated.' is correct, but less common than attributive use.
- Confusing with 'coin-operated' as a verb phrase, which it is not.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a compound adjective and is almost always hyphenated, especially when placed before a noun (e.g., a coin-operated machine).
Strictly, no. It specifies coins. For tokens, use 'token-operated'. For cards, 'card-operated' or 'contactless' is more accurate, though 'coin-operated' is sometimes used loosely for similar pay-per-use mechanisms.
'Coin-operated' is the full adjective. 'Coin-op' (often with a hyphen) is a casual, primarily American noun meaning a coin-operated business or device (e.g., 'Let's go to the coin-op to do laundry').
Not obsolete, but its domain is shrinking. It remains the standard term for physical devices that still accept coins (e.g., laundromats, some lockers, older meters). For newer digital systems, terms like 'pay-as-you-go', 'app-enabled', or 'contactless' are more common.
Designed to function when coins are inserted as payment.
Coin-operated is usually formal/neutral in register.
Coin-operated: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔɪn ˌɒp.ə.reɪ.tɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔɪn ˌɑː.pə.reɪ.t̬ɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's like a coin-operated friendship. (Describes a relationship based on transactional benefit)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COIN making a machine OPERATE. Coin + Operated = Coin-operated.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND/RELATIONSHIP IS A COIN-OPERATED MACHINE (requiring constant, small, tangible inputs to function).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as 'coin-operated' today?