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.
to talk hypocritically.
to speak in the whining or singsong tone of a beggar; beg.
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. bank.
a sudden pitch or toss.
Also called flitch. a partly trimmed log.
Canterbury.
Cantonese.
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
to tip, tilt, or overturn, esp with a sudden jerk
to set in an oblique position
another word for bevel
oblique; slanting
having flat surfaces and without curves
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
Canterbury
Bible Canticles
See cannot.
See contraction.
First recorded in 1495–1505; from Latin base cant- in cantus “song,” canticus “singsong,” etc., whence Old English cantere “singer,” cantic “song”; see chant
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
First recorded in 1325–1375; Middle English cant, kant, kaunt “bold, brave, fierce,” from Low German kant “merry, bold”
How does cant compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Cant is language repeated so often and so mechanically that it's essentially empty of meaning. Cant can also mean the specialized jargon of a particular group — like the "cant of piracy" (e.g., Ahoy! Lubber! Arrr!). Possible sources for cant exist in both Irish Gaelic and Latin, and the meanings of both are similar: caint is "speech," while cantare is "to sing." In broader English, the word was first used to mock the singing of monks. As it evolved, cant became the whining of beggars and then the secret language of thieves, and the negative connotations persist in modern usage. As a verb, cant has a completely different meaning: it means to lean or tilt to one side.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He writes with clarity and a welcome lack of cant, and he has an eye for the telling detail.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
Davidson referenced a New York Times article about trouble with their business venture, but said, “I cant spend $5 on a paywall when I have a kid on the way.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2025
"We cant agree to those narratives," he said.
From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2025
“Even when your coaches tell you can take a nap — ‘Close your eyes; we’ll be on top of things’ — for me, it’s like, ‘No, I cant fully switch off.’
From Seattle Times ● May 31, 2024
“You cant catch anything at the Eddy,” the second said.
From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner
Without more evidence that the dirt is harming anyone, the judge said she can’t force the government to haul it away.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
"This is not fair. You can't be hostage in your own home. This is our farm. This is our home."
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
And if you let things go, the price rises to where you can’t cover the cost of surgery.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
"Yesterday was unbearable. My daughter came home from holiday camp and said: 'Mum, I can't open my eyes, my eyes are burning'" from the smoke, she said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
“I hope so. We put so much work into this. I can’t wait for you to meet Tim. This is all his work. He’s the next big thing in the photography world.”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
As the bridegroom says to the bride, in Cant. iii.,
From The Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude Preached and Explained by Gillett, E. H. (Ezra Hall)
Cant. viii. 5-14 We have now reached the closing section of this book, which, as we have seen, is a poem describing the life of a believer on earth.
From Union And Communion or Thoughts on the Song of Solomon by Taylor, James Hudson
If this were the case, the same Spirit of God would not have said elsewhere, Draw me and we will run after thee; turn thou us, and we shall be turned, Cant. i.
From Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies) A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies by Howie, John
To awaken them from their security, and to set them to a more diligent following of duty; as we see in the spouse, Cant. v.
From Christ: The Way, the Truth, and the Life by Brown, John (of Wamphray)
The spouse took this course, when she could not get a sight of him whom her soul loved, Cant. vi.
From Christ: The Way, the Truth, and the Life by Brown, John (of Wamphray)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
