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 of canned

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

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

So does a prescription for the same drug found in the pre-canned Bloody Mary that killed Floyd. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026

Canned Water Chestnuts Fresh water chestnuts, while hard to find, are sweeter and juicier than canned varieties, with a cleaner, more pronounced crunch. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026

Food offerings are also a focus, as Target looks to drive more shopper trips by expanding fresh produce and adding items from niche brands such as Fishwife, which sells canned fish. —CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026

Though the items in the pantries may vary by school, Chestnut offers pasta, rice, beans, pancake mix, carrots, and canned ravioli. —Camila Gomez, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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