freezer

American  

[free-zer] / ˈfri zər /

noun

1. a refrigerator, refrigerator compartment, cabinet, or room held at or below 32°F (0°C), used especially for preserving and storing food.

2. a machine containing cold brine, ice, etc., for making ice cream, sherbet, or the like.

3. a person or thing that freezes or chills.

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freezer British  

/ ˈfriːzə /

noun

1. Also called: deepfreeze.  a device that freezes or chills, esp an insulated cold-storage cabinet for long-term storage of perishable foodstuffs

2. a former name for refrigerator

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Etymology

Origin of freezer

First recorded in 1835–45; freeze + -er ¹

Explanation

A freezer is an appliance that keeps food frozen at extremely low temperatures. A household freezer is usually built into a refrigerator. It's where you keep your ice cream and ice cubes. The freezer is where you keep ice cubes and frozen peas — it's a compartment at the top (or bottom) of the refrigerator in your kitchen. Larger freezers are used to keep enough food for a long period of time, or so a restaurant, hotel, or school cafeteria can store leftover food or keep enough to cook for a crowd of people. The word freezer was coined in 1847, although it originally meant part of an ice cream maker.

Example Sentences

Beyond seasonal deals, experts recommend buying ground beef in bulk if you have the freezer space and wiggle room in your budget.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

I’m looking into a freezer box at the fall of the Roman empire.

From Slate • May 8, 2026

Tall ones for soups, stews and curries tucked into the freezer.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

“The extra garlic that I don’t immediately use, I put it in the freezer as soon as I can because it keeps that sharp, kind of fresh garlic flavor lasting for longer.”

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

“Why don’t you go clean out the freezer so we can put some ice in it,” Uncle Basil says as he grabs the first bag from the truck bed.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• cooler
• refrigerator