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

Connecticut has partially filled the gap for people who have lost SNAP, providing millions in assistance to food pantries, grants to the Department of Agriculture, and $300 grocery cards for people who have recently lost SNAP. — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026

Geared toward longer stays and keeping road warriors happy, the hotel offers a grab-and-go pantry, an evening happy hour with wine, beer, and light bites, and a buffet breakfast. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026

Closets, pantries and bathrooms are also strong picks because a motion sensor there almost never needs manual override. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

For those of us who grew up with the yellow can in the pantry, Old Bay will always be the nostalgic, delicious choice. — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 31 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