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

Tomato and egg stir-fry is an easy recipe that can be thrown together with common pantry staples in 10 minutes and is delicious enough to be in your weeknight dinner rotation. — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 28 June 2026

If your laundry detergent just isn't cutting it, leaving your sheets with odors and dull colors, reach into your pantry for a bottle of vinegar. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 June 2026

Try it with any interesting spice blend in your pantry, or whip up a batch of this all-purpose mix, made with salt and pepper, plus garlic and onion powders, paprika, and celery seeds. — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 26 June 2026

So, during a pre-planned media session Thursday at a local food pantry, The Observer asked Schnall and Plotkin about making difficult roster moves in general and the necessity of keeping the fans’ faith in the right place. — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 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