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

As of this month, the neighborhood even has a local artists canteen. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026

For all its sailors’ dives and dockworker canteens, Hamburg is also a place of vast wealth, and of the material beauty that its shipping has built. — Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2026

Sixteen months after his savage takedown of L’Avenue, the fashion-world canteen on swanky Avenue Montaigne, Yann has become a major thorn in the side of Paris chefs and restaurant owners. — Alexander Lobrano, Air Mail, 5 Sep. 2026

The stone cabins and canteen made of rounded river rocks showcase the rustic, homey appeal of the campground, whose outward appearance had changed little since 1922, according to the NPS. — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 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)