pillbox

noun

pill·​box ˈpil-ˌbäks How to pronounce pillbox (audio)
1
: a box for pills
especially : a shallow round box of pasteboard
2
: a small low concrete emplacement for machine guns and antitank weapons
3
: a small round hat without a brim
specifically : a woman's shallow hat with a flat crown and straight sides

Examples of pillbox 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.
The chili was oversalted and oddly smooth, with a slab of nonmelting cheese sitting on top of it like a pillbox hat. Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025 This four-compartment pillbox fits eight standard-sized pills and has a timer attached. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025 Her pillbox halo hat with a birdcage veil was by Jane Taylor. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025 Playful, attention-grabbing accessories—like pillbox hats, a silhouette popularized by Jackie Kennedy—are the name of the game too. Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pillbox

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pillbox was in 1702

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pillbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pillbox. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

pillbox

noun
pill·​box ˈpil-ˌbäks How to pronounce pillbox (audio)
1
: a small usually shallow box for pills
2
: a small low fortification for machine guns and antitank weapons
3
: a small round hat without a brim

More from Merriam-Webster on pillbox

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!