closet

American  

[kloz-it] / ˈklɒz ɪt /

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 British  

/ 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

closet Idioms  

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

---

Etymology

Origin of closet

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

Example Sentences

The thrill of watching someone pay for something that’s been sitting in your closet for months is unmatched.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

Heading upstairs, guests will find two large bedrooms that each boast their own walk-in closet and share a spacious bathroom with geometric tiles and a large soaking tub.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

“It was about the size of a walk-in closet, it had one speaker and three chairs,” said Petrella, 28, a theme-park performer.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

For example, even the rarest piece in your closet is first experienced by your car, or your backyard, or the courtyard of a county museum.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

She walked to the closet in the back, opened the door, and there was Jaya, smiling and trying not to laugh.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

Related Words

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