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

The permanent school pantries, which serve about 16,000 people a month each, including more than 5,000 children, are set up like small grocery stores. —Heather McRea, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025

The eat-in country-style kitchen boasted a white marble island and a butler’s pantry, while the cavernous primary suite was equipped with an accommodating walk-in closet and a spa-like bathroom with a soaking tub and a steam shower. —Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 25 Sep. 2025

Peanut butter Peanut butter can be stored at room temp in a pantry. —Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 25 Sep. 2025

But there were long years during which my book simmered on the back burner or even cooled on a pantry shelf. —Megan Marshall september 25, Literary Hub, 25 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