closet

[kloz-it]

noun

1. a small room, enclosed recess, or cabinet for storing clothing, food, utensils, etc.

2. a small private room, especially one used for prayer, meditation, etc.

3. a state or condition of secrecy or carefully guarded privacy.

   Some conservatives remain in the closet except on election day. Gay liberation has encouraged many gay people to come out of the closet.

4. water closet.

adjective

1. private; secluded.

2. suited for use or enjoyment in privacy.

   closet reflections; closet prayer.

3. engaged in private study or speculation; speculative; unpractical.

   a closet thinker with no practical experience.

4. being or functioning as such in private; secret.

   a closet anarchist.

verb (used with object)

1. to shut up in a private room for a conference, interview, etc. (usually used in the passive voice).

   The secretary of state was closeted with the senator for three hours in a tense session.

closet

/ ˈklɒzɪt /

noun

1. a small cupboard or recess

2. a small private room

3. short for water closet

4. (modifier) private or secret

5. (modifier) suited or appropriate for use in private

   closet meditations

6. (modifier) based on or devoted to theory; speculative

   a closet strategist

verb

1. (tr) to shut up or confine in a small private room, esp for conference or meditation

Word History and Origins

Origin of closet¹

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French, equivalent to clos close (noun) + -et -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of closet¹

C14: from Old French, from clos enclosure; see _close ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see come out of the closet; skeleton in the closet.

Example Sentences

The primary bedroom is adorned in carpet flooring and has a stunning, wooden walk-in closet that is fit for a star.

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It also has its own walk-in closet for the future owner to get their glam on in.

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By opening larger stores in affluent neighborhoods, Goodwill is well positioned for when wealthy donors clean out their closets.

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Only then did the backbone scale: We went from server closets wedged next to the mop sink to data centers and cloud regions, from lone system administrators to fulfillment networks, cybersecurity and compliance.

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When I got to the closet in her bedroom, which contained enough medical supplies to stock a small pharmacy, I started to think she may have been a secret hoarder.

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Related Words

• cabinet 
• container 
• locker 
• room 
• vault 
• wardrobe