canned

1 of 2

adjective

ˈkand 

1

: preserved in a sealed can or jar

canned peaches

canned pumpkin

2

a

: prepared or recorded in advance

especially : prepared in standardized form for nonspecific use or wide distribution

canned laughter

canned music

b

: lacking originality or individuality as if mass-produced

a canned speech

3

slang : drunk sense 1a

canned

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of can entry 3

Synonyms of canned

Adjective

• imitative
• imitation
• copied
• mock
• formulaic
• misleading

Examples of canned in a Sentence

Adjective

The salesperson kept using the same canned phrases.

there's a canned quality to the screenplay that reminds you of countless other action movies

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Butternut squash works as a stand-in for canned pumpkin too, since the squash varieties used in most US brands are closer to butternut than to carving pumpkins. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

Expect more substitution too, especially if canned supplies tighten late in the season. — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Some canned soups come in low-sodium varieties, but check the sodium content on the nutrition label to be sure. — Laura Bradley, HEALTH, 17 Oct. 2026

Czerwony notes that canned pumpkin contains less water than fresh, which can make some nutrients, including fiber and beta-carotene, more concentrated by weight. — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for canned

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

Kids Definition

canned

adjective

ˈkand 

1

: preserved in a sealed can or jar

canned peaches

2

a

: prepared or recorded in advance

especially : prepared in one form for ordinary use or wide distribution

canned laughter

b

: lacking originality as if mass-produced

a canned speech