skillet

noun

skil·​let ˈski-lət 

1

chiefly British : a small kettle or pot usually having three or four often long feet and used for cooking on the hearth

2

: frying pan

Examples of skillet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Using a meat mallet or the bottom of a heavy skillet, pound the chicken to a uniform 1/2-inch thickness. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

In a large dry skillet toast guajillo and ancho chiles over medium, turning occasionally, until lightly toasted and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Aug. 2026

Use your grill to heat the cast-iron skillet; the skillet surface area promotes a more assertive flavor and better sear than grill grates, yielding a steak with the proper steak house crust. — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026

Return the sausage to the skillet and cook for another 2–3 minutes until heated through. — Sharon Lawson, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English skelet, probably from Anglo-French *escuelete, diminutive of escuelle, eskil bowl — more at scullery

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for skillet

• billet
• willet
• acrylate
• cacodylate
• carboxylate
• methacrylate

Kids Definition

skillet

noun

skil·​let ˈskil-ət 

: frying pan