A casket is a special box used to hold a person's body after they die, especially during a funeral service and for burial. Caskets are usually made of wood or metal and are carefully crafted to be dignified and respectful. They often have a hinged lid that can open to allow family members and friends to say their final goodbyes.

The word casket can also mean a small, decorative box used to hold valuable items like jewelry or important letters. You might find an antique casket in a museum that once held a queen's jewels or precious family documents. These small treasure boxes were often beautifully carved or decorated.

A coffin typically has six or eight sides and is wider at the shoulders, while a casket is usually rectangular. Today, most Americans say casket when referring to a burial container, though coffin is still widely used in other English-speaking countries and in older literature.