cant

[ kant ]

/ kænt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for cant on Thesaurus.com

noun

insincere, especially conventional expressions of enthusiasm for high ideals, goodness, or piety.

the private language of the underworld.

the phraseology peculiar to a particular class, party, profession, etc.: the cant of the fashion industry.

whining or singsong speech, especially of beggars.

verb (used without object)

to talk hypocritically.

to speak in the whining or singsong tone of a beggar; beg.

COMPARE MEANINGS

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

OTHER WORDS FOR cant

1 hypocrisy, sham, pretense, humbug.

See synonyms for cant on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of cant

First recorded in 1495–1505; from Latin base cant- in cantus “song,” canticus “singsong,” etc., whence Old English cantere “singer,” cantic “song”; see chant

OTHER WORDS FROM cant

cant·ing·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cant

1. cant , can't2. cant , jargon, slang

Words nearby cant

Canova, Canrobert, cans, Canso, canst, cant, Cantab., can't abide, cantabile, Cantabrian Mountains, Cantabrigian

Other definitions for cant (2 of 5)

cant²

[ kant ]

/ kænt /

noun

a salient angle.

a sudden movement that tilts or overturns a thing.

a slanting or tilted position.

an oblique line or surface, as one formed by cutting off the corner of a square of cube.

an oblique or slanting face of anything.

Civil Engineering. bank¹ (def. 6).

a sudden pitch or toss.

Also called flitch. a partly trimmed log.

adjective

oblique or slanting.

verb (used with object)

to bevel; form an oblique surface upon.

to put in an oblique position; tilt; tip.

to throw with a sudden jerk.

verb (used without object)

to take or have an inclined position; tilt; tip.

Origin of cant

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English: “side, part, border,” from Anglo-French cant, Old French chant, from an unrecorded Romance cantu(m) with the related senses “rim, border” and “angle corner,” probably from Celtic; compare Latin cant(h)us “tire, iron tire” (from Celtic kantos ), Welsh cant “periphery, rim, felloe” cf. canteen, cantle, canton

OTHER WORDS FROM cant

cantic, adjective

Other definitions for cant (3 of 5)

cant³

[ kahnt ]

/ kɑnt /

adjective Scot. and North England.

hearty; merry.

Origin of cant

First recorded in 1325–1375; Middle English cant, kant, kaunt “bold, brave, fierce,” from Low German kant “merry, bold”

Other definitions for cant (4 of 5)

can't

[ kant, kahnt ]

/ kænt, kɑnt /

contraction of cannot.

usage note for can't

See contraction.

usage note for can't

See cannot.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH can't

cant, can't

Other definitions for cant (5 of 5)

Cant.

abbreviation

Canterbury.

Cantonese.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cant in a sentence

Satirists occupy a perilous position—to skewer dogma and cant, and to antagonize the establishment while needing its protection.
Harry Shearer on The Dangerous Business of Satire|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And of course: “Bye Ryan Braun, you cheating piece of sh*t. CANT JEW YOUR WAY OUT OF IT THIS TIME.”
Ryan Braun and Anti-Semites|Emily L. Hauser|August 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“Only those cant [sic] read chinese and not familiar with modern chinese history will believe the story,” wrote one.
Ping Fu Defends ‘Bend, Not Break’ Memoir Against Online Chinese Attack|Katie Baker|February 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
On the periphery, tents pitched under overpasses cant against the dirty wind.
Catastrophe in Verse|Eliza Griswold|April 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Bath's The Secret of Castle Cant is ranked No. 331,025 in book sales on Amazon's site.
The Kids' Author Who Loved Child Porn|Winston Ross|July 12, 2010|DAILY BEAST
But I cant stay here all day; Mrs. Towne is to take me to spend the day with the Gesners.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
I didnt think much of that, but he said afterward, A man may do in an hour what he cant undo in a lifetime.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
I cant let you increase your indebtedness, and his pudgy hand lifted the basket and put it on the shelf behind him.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
A grain—requiring to be picked out with a pin and microscope—of truth, with a bushel of bunkum or cant.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Cant expect money before its due, I spose, said the old man, licking his thin lips.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison

British Dictionary definitions for cant (1 of 5)

cant¹

/ (kænt) /

noun

insincere talk, esp concerning religion or morals; pious platitudes

stock phrases that have become meaningless through repetition

specialized vocabulary of a particular group, such as thieves, journalists, or lawyers; jargon

singsong whining speech, as used by beggars

verb

(intr) to speak in or use cant

Derived forms of cant

canter, nouncantingly, adverb

Word Origin for cant

C16: probably via Norman French canter to sing, from Latin cantāre; used disparagingly, from the 12th century, of chanting in religious services

British Dictionary definitions for cant (2 of 5)

cant²

/ (kænt) /

noun

inclination from a vertical or horizontal plane; slope; slant

a sudden movement that tilts or turns something

the angle or tilt thus caused

a corner or outer angle, esp of a building

an oblique or slanting surface, edge, or line

verb (tr)

to tip, tilt, or overturn, esp with a sudden jerk

to set in an oblique position

another word for bevel (def. 1)

adjective

oblique; slanting

having flat surfaces and without curves

Derived forms of cant

cantic, adjective

Word Origin for cant

C14 (in the sense: edge, corner): perhaps from Latin canthus iron hoop round a wheel, of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for cant (3 of 5)

cant³

/ (kɑːnt) /

adjective

Scot and Northern English dialect lusty; merry; hearty

Word Origin for cant

C14: related to Low German kant bold, merry

British Dictionary definitions for cant (4 of 5)

can't

/ (kɑːnt) /

contraction of

cannot

British Dictionary definitions for cant (5 of 5)

Cant.

abbreviation for

Canterbury

Bible Canticles

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with cant

can't

In addition to the idioms beginning with can't

can't abide
can't but
can't complain
can't do anything with
can't fight City Hall
can't help
can't hit the broad side of a barn
can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
can't make head or tail of
can't punch one's way out of a paper bag
can't see beyond the end of one's nose.
can't seem to
can't see the forest for the trees
can't stand
can't wait

also see:

beggars can't be choosers
if you can't beat them, join them
you can't take it with you
you can't win them all

Also see undercan.

cant

COMPARE MEANINGS

OTHER WORDS FOR cant

Origin of cant

OTHER WORDS FROM cant

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cant

Words nearby cant

Other definitions for cant (2 of 5)

Origin of cant

OTHER WORDS FROM cant

Other definitions for cant (3 of 5)

Origin of cant

Other definitions for cant (4 of 5)

usage note for can't

usage note for can't

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH can't

Other definitions for cant (5 of 5)

Words related to cant

How to use cant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cant (1 of 5)

Derived forms of cant

Word Origin for cant

British Dictionary definitions for cant (2 of 5)

Derived forms of cant

Word Origin for cant

British Dictionary definitions for cant (3 of 5)

Word Origin for cant

British Dictionary definitions for cant (4 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for cant (5 of 5)

Other Idioms and Phrases with cant