soffit

noun

sof·​fit ˈsä-fət How to pronounce soffit (audio)
: the underside of a part or member of a building (as of an overhang or staircase)
especially : the intrados of an arch

Examples of soffit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Repel Pests From Eaves and Wood Soffits Wasps, spiders, ants, and many other pests can get into your eaves, burrow into soffits, and make their way under roofing shingles, especially during the warmer months of the year. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026 Other reinforcements, like adding hurricane straps to your rafters, retrofitting soffits and bracing roof trusses, can further reduce your risk of structural damage. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Cockroaches also get in through soffits, gables, cracks, windows and unsealed garage doors. — Eva Flowe june 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026 Repairs include upgrading theater seats, repairing water damage and drainage issues, replacing soffit panels and addressing structural issues with the center's parking garage. — Katherine Lam, CBS News, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for soffit

Word History

Etymology

French soffite, from Italian soffitto, from Vulgar Latin *suffictus, past participle of Latin suffigere to fasten underneath — more at suffix

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soffit was in 1592

Rhymes for soffit

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Browse Nearby Words

soffione
soffit
Sofia
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soffit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soffit. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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