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

Denver International Airport is working to fill in the gap, creating a food pantry for its federal employees and asking the FAA for permission to use the airport's revenue to pay for controllers' wages. —Josh Funk, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2025

Expired Food and Kitchen Items This is absolutely the time to get rid of anything that is expired in your fridge or pantry in order to make room for all of your holiday ingredients, as well as ready the fridge for leftovers. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025

But this year, since SNAP food assistance has lapsed for 42 million Americans, the pressure on pantries is next-level. —Tovia Smith, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025

This coming Wednesday, the pantry plans to serve the first 60 households, giving priority to those with children and elders. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 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