pantry

noun

pan·​try ˈpan-trē 

plural pantries

1

: a room or closet used for storage (as of provisions) or from which food is brought to the table

2

: a room (as in a hotel or hospital) for preparation of foods on order

Synonyms

• cupboard
• closet

Examples of pantry in a Sentence

homemade jams and pickles are stored in a separate pantry off the kitchen

Recent Examples on the Web

Because of its proximity to the Underground Railroad network on Hamilton Pike, the congregation of mostly farm families focused mission work during the Civil War era around the non-food pantry. —Enquirer Staff Report, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2025

Get the recipe > This recipe only requires a few pantry ingredients and a pair of tongs to bring late-summer corn from crisp to crunchy in a matter of minutes. —Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025

With them on a recent day at his apartment, not far from where dozens of vehicles waited in a long line at a food pantry, was his stepdaughter Isabella, 9, and son, Kash, 2. —Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

Store these in a cupboard or pantry. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English panetrie, from Anglo-French paneterie, from paneter servant in charge of the pantry, from pain bread, from Latin panis — more at food

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pantry

• butler's pantry
• food pantry

Rhymes for pantry

• chantry
• gantry

Kids Definition

pantry

noun

pan·​try ˈpan-trē 

plural pantries

: a small room in which food and dishes are kept

Etymology

Middle English panetrie "pantry," derived from early French panetier "servant in charge of food storage," from pan "bread," from Latin panis "bread, food" — related to companion