canteen

noun

can·​teen kan-ˈtēn 

1

a

: a portable chest with compartments for carrying bottles or for cooking and eating utensils

b

: a flask for carrying liquids (as on a hike)

c

: mess kit

d

British : a chest for storing flatware

2

a

: a bar at a military post or camp

b

: a general store at a military post : exchange

c

: an establishment that serves as an informal social club (as for soldiers or a community's teenagers)

d

: a small cafeteria or snack bar

Examples of canteen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And a pig like me would have picked Bing’s face up off the dirt, rinsed it in cold water from his canteen, and felt the skin flex in the palm of his hand. — Will MacKin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026

Her son recalled holding his mother's hand on Halloween, as she was dressed as a soldier with a helmet and canteen. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 8 June 2026

Known for affordable comfort food, these casual canteens took off in the early 20th century with the rise of car culture. — Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026

Downed trees and power lines have made some neighborhoods too dangerous to enter, but the canteen offers a central location for residents, volunteers, first responders and utility workers to get a snack or sack lunch. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French cantine bottle case, sutler's shop, from Italian cantina wine cellar, probably from canto corner, from Latin canthus iron tire — more at cant entry 4

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for canteen

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between
• bromine

Kids Definition

canteen

noun

can·​teen kan-ˈtēn 

1

: a store (as in a camp) in which food, drinks, and small supplies are sold

2

: a place of recreation and entertainment for people in military service

3

: a small container for carrying liquids (as on a hike)