canned

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

Synonyms

• apish
• emulative
• epigonic
• epigonous
• formulaic
• imitative
• mimetic
• mimic
• slavish
• unoriginal

Examples of canned in a Sentence

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

With the creation of the Laff Box, in the early ’50s, canned laughs proliferated to the point that even shows without the slightest pretense of having been performed for a live studio audience used laugh tracks. —Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2024

Dole’s canned pineapple and ham The U.K. arm of the famed fruit company seemed to be poking Hawaiian pizza haters by combining the divisive toppings in a single can. —Emily Heil, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024

Frozen sweet potato, bottle salsa, and canned beans are easy shortcuts that boost the flavor of this egg recipe for breakfast. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024

Items collected include canned fruits, soups, meats, vegetables, cereals and pasta. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024

Additionally, canned pineapple is usually stored in syrup. —USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024

Right now, the drink menu includes a variety of spirits, wines, and beers, as well as canned cocktails like the On the Rocks Hornitos Margarita. —Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024

In China, Zong was known as a legendary businessman who grew his soft drinks empire from a tricycle cart hawking ice pops to school kids into a conglomerate selling everything from milk drinks to bottled water and canned porridge. —Nectar Gan, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024

Pot Soup This classic vegetarian soup is made with callaloo, a spinach-like green that can be found canned or fresh in Caribbean groceries. —Saveur Editors, Saveur, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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