coach

Pluralcoaches

Formscoaches, coaching, coached

1. 1
   trainernouncountable

   A person who trains or instructs others, especially in a sport, skill, or area of personal development.

   The team's new coach focused on defense during the preseason.

   Some executive coaches charge several hundred dollars an hour.

   UsageThe field usually goes in front: a football coach, a voice coach, a life coach.

   Similartrainer, instructor, mentor, tutor

   Note

   The instructor meaning began as Oxford University slang and has long since lost any slangy feel. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • The instructor meaning originated in Oxford University slang. en.wiktionary.org
2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To train or instruct a person or team, especially in a sport or skill, or to work as a coach.

   He coached the debate team to a state championship.

   A senior partner agreed to coach the new hires through their first cases.

   UsageOften coach someone through a task or for a test, or coach a team to a title.

   Similartrain, teach, instruct, tutor, mentor

3. 3
   nounUSuncountable

   The cheapest standard class of travel on a plane or train, or the section where those passengers sit; economy.

   The seats in coach felt cramped on the twelve-hour flight.

   She walked back through coach looking for an empty row on the train.

   UsageUsually after in: sit in coach; you can also upgrade from coach.

   Similareconomy

4. 4
   long-distance busnounAustraliaBritishcountable

   A bus designed for long-distance travel, or one privately hired for a group.

   The coach to Edinburgh leaves Victoria Station at half past nine.

   Football fans filled three coaches for the away match.

   UsageTravel by coach or on the coach. Ordinary local services are usually called buses.

   Similarbus

   Note

   The same British and Australian usage that gives trains railway coaches separates the road coach from an ordinary bus mainly by its journey, though coaches are also built for it, with forward-facing seats and no room for standing passengers. A vehicle running a local route is usually a bus. One that goes the long distance, or one hired for a group outing, is a coach.

5. 5
   horse carriagenouncountable

   A wheeled carriage, usually pulled by horses, for carrying passengers.

   The coach rattled over the cobblestones as it left the courtyard.

   Wealthy families kept a private coach and a stable of horses.

   Similarcarriage

   Note

   The vehicle every other sense of the word descends from. English borrowed it through Middle French coche and German Kutsche from Hungarian kocsi. Historians trace the name to Kocs, a small Hungarian town that lived by building carts and carrying travelers between Vienna and Buda. Carriage is its close synonym, and the town's trade in transport survives in every bus, railway car and economy cabin that later took the name. Source

   Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 5 facts

   • The horse-drawn carriage is the original sense underlying the later senses of coach. en.wikipedia.org
   • English borrowed coach through Middle French coche and German Kutsche from Hungarian kocsi. en.wiktionary.org
   • The name comes from Kocs, a small Hungarian settlement. hungarikum.hu
   • Kocs made its livelihood from cart building and transport. en.wiktionary.org
   • The early transport route connected Buda and Vienna. skanzen.hu
6. 6
   train carnounAustraliaUKcountable

   A railway passenger car, either drawn by a locomotive or forming part of a multiple unit.

   Passengers in the front coach felt the jolt first.

   The 8:15 to Leeds runs with eight coaches today.

   Similarcarriage

   Note

   Railway English in Britain and Australia counts trains in coaches: a train runs with eight coaches, and passengers sit in the front coach or the rear one. Carriage is the usual alternative in the same varieties. Those speakers also use the word for a long-distance bus, so context has to show whether a coach runs on rails or on the road.

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