cabinet

American  

[kab-uh-nit] / ˈkæb ə nɪt /

noun

1. a piece of furniture with shelves, drawers, etc., for holding or displaying items.

   a curio cabinet;

   a file cabinet.

2. a wall cupboard used for storage, as of kitchen utensils or toilet articles.

   a kitchen cabinet;

   a medicine cabinet.

3. a piece of furniture containing a radio or television set, usually standing on the floor and often having a record player or a place for phonograph records.

4. Often Cabinet a council advising a president, sovereign, etc., especially the group of ministers or executives responsible for the government of a nation.

   Synonyms:

   ministry

5. Often Cabinet (in the United States) an advisory body to the president, consisting of the heads of the 13 executive departments of the federal government.

6. a small case with compartments for valuables or other small objects.

7. a small chamber or booth for special use, especially a shower stall.

8. a private room.

9. a room set aside for the exhibition of small works of art or objets d'art.

10. Also called cabinet wine.  a dry white wine produced in Germany from fully matured grapes without the addition of extra sugar.

11. New England (chiefly Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts). a milkshake made with ice cream.

12. Archaic. a small room.

13. Obsolete. a small cabin.

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adjective

1. pertaining to a political cabinet.

   a cabinet meeting.

2. private; confidential; secret.

3. pertaining to a private room.

4. of suitable value, beauty, or size for a private room, small display case, etc..

   a cabinet edition of Milton.

5. of, relating to, or used by a cabinetmaker or in cabinetmaking.

6. Drafting. designating a method of projection cabinet projection in which a three-dimensional object is represented by a drawing cabinet drawing having all vertical and horizontal lines drawn to exact scale, with oblique lines reduced to about half scale so as to offset the appearance of distortion.

cabinet British  

/ ˈkæbɪnɪt /

noun

1. 1. a piece of furniture containing shelves, cupboards, or drawers for storage or display

   2. ( as modifier )

      cabinet teak

2. the outer case of a television, radio, etc

3. 1. (often capital) the executive and policy-making body of a country, consisting of all government ministers or just the senior ministers

   2. (sometimes capital) an advisory council to a president, sovereign, governor, etc

   3. ( as modifier )

      a cabinet reshuffle

      a cabinet minister

4. 1. a standard size of paper, 6 × 4 inches (15 × 10 cm) or 6 1/ 2 × 4 1/ 4 inches (16.5 × 10.5 cm), for mounted photographs

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cabinet photograph

5. printing an enclosed rack for holding cases of type, etc

6. archaic a private room

7. (modifier) suitable in size, value, decoration, etc, for a display cabinet

   a cabinet edition of Shakespeare

8. (modifier) (of a drawing or projection of a three-dimensional object) constructed with true horizontal and vertical representation of scale but with oblique distances reduced to about half scale to avoid the appearance of distortion

9. (modifier) (of a wine) specially selected and usually rare

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cabinet ¹ Cultural  

1. A group of presidential advisers, composed of the heads of the fourteen government departments (the secretaries of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of the Interior, Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of Transportation, Department of the Treasury, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the attorney general (head of the Department of Justice) — all of whom are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate) and a few other select government officials. Theoretically, the cabinet is charged with debating major policy issues and recommending action by the executive branch; the actual influence of the cabinet, however, is limited by competition from other advisory staffs.

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cabinet ² Cultural  

1. A select group of officials who advise the head of government. In nations governed by parliaments, such as Britain, the members of the cabinet typically have seats in parliament. (Compare cabinet under “American Politics.”)

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Usage

What is the Cabinet? The Cabinet is the group of advisors to the president of the United States. The Cabinet is made of 25 members, many of whom would be in line to be president if the president was suddenly unable to do their job, called the line of succession. As the head of the United States government and the leader of the executive branch, the president has many responsibilities and powers. Because the work is too much for one person, the president has always had a small group of advisors to guide them and lead the executive departments. This group is known as the Cabinet. The members of the Cabinet all have very different roles and responsibilities. Many of them are in charge of essential departments that keep the daily operations of the United States going, such as the Department of the Treasury, which collects revenue. Every member of the Cabinet must be confirmed by majority vote in the Senate, which is part of the checks and balances of the US government. In addition to the vice president and the president’s chief of staff, the Cabinet includes the heads of the 15 executive departments, the presidential science advisor, and several other federal administrators.

Other Word Forms

• supercabinet noun

Etymology

Origin of cabinet

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French, equivalent to cabine “hut, room on a ship” (of uncertain origin, but frequently alleged to be alteration of cabane cabin ) + -et -et

Explanation

A cabinet is a piece of furniture that has doors and drawers and is often used for storage, like a kitchen cabinet that holds your drinking glasses and plates. Cabinets store things, like a bathroom cabinet that holds items like toothbrushes and soap. Another kind of cabinet is a group of official advisers of executive departments of governments. President Andrew Jackson had a group of informal advisers whom his opponents mockingly called his "kitchen cabinet," a term which has since lost its negative meaning and describes any President's closest confidantes.

Example Sentences

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had instructed his cabinet to open negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” according to multiple media reports.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Far fewer know that Abraham Lincoln told his cabinet that he had made a solemn promise to his “Maker” to issue the proclamation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

"The army and security forces are requested to immediately begin reinforcing the full imposition of state authority over Beirut Governorate," Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said at the end of a cabinet meeting.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Stocks turned higher Thursday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed his cabinet to open direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible.”

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Finally, I turn to the hallway cabinet where Tūtū keeps our family heirlooms: my great-grandpa’s Purple Heart, Dad’s high school diploma.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Related Words

• administration
• authority
• committee
• government
• ministry