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 of pantry

• 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

Learn how to degrease an oven using vinegar, and its pantry friend, baking soda. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 July 2026

On Wednesday, July 8, the Virginia high schooler launched Grocery Genius, a website that uses AI to take inventory of pantries and turn it into recipes or donations. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026

This year, the nonprofit has already served 80,056 people through its pantry program and another 5,732 through its food share program to rescue and distribute fresh produce. — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026

According to Our Test Kitchen shares a simple way to enhance asparagus with just four pantry ingredients. — Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026

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