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  • coaster
    coaster
    noun
    a person or thing that coasts.
  • Coaster
    Coaster
    noun
    a person from the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand
Synonyms

coaster

American  
[koh-ster] / ˈkoʊ stər /

noun

coasters plural
  1. a person or thing that coasts.

  2. a small dish, tray, or mat, especially for placing under a glass to protect a table from moisture.

  3. a ship engaged in coastwise trade.

  4. a sled for coasting.

  5. a tray for holding a decanter to be passed around a dining table.

  6. roller coaster.


coaster 1 British  
/ ˈkəʊstə /

noun

  1. a vessel or trader engaged in coastal commerce

  2. a small tray, sometimes on wheels, for holding a decanter, wine bottle, etc

  3. a person or thing that coasts

  4. a protective disc or mat for glasses or bottles

  5. short for roller coaster

  6. a European resident on the coast

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Coaster 2 British  
/ ˈkəʊstə /

noun

  1. a person from the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of coaster

First recorded in 1565–75; coast + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The group's performance reflects the roller coaster ride by cocoa prices over the past five years when it has been buffeted by wars, poor harvests and economic worries in key markets.

From Barron's • Jul. 9, 2026

But this one is going through the very human roller coaster of a relationship rebound and self-discovery.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026

The emotional roller coaster his comments and the subsequent backlash took us on are emblematic of a larger hesitancy and resistance to change.

From Slate • Jun. 15, 2026

In recent years, the IRS has been on a roller coaster.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

I could see myself as if from above, leaning into the wind, looking into the next dip and rise, feeling one with the roller coaster, seeing everything.

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

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