panto
noun
panto
1 American
[pan-toh]
/ ˈpæn toʊ /
noun
British.
pantos
plural
panto-
2
American
panto
1
British
/ ˈpæntəʊ /
noun
panto-
2
British
combining form
Usage
What does panto- mean? Panto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “all.” It is occasionally used in a variety of scientific and technical terms. Panto- comes from the Greek pâs, meaning “all.” The equivalent form derived from Latin is omni-, as in omnivore, which comes from Latin omnis, “all.”What are variants of panto-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, panto- becomes pant-, as in pantalgia. Another common variant of panto- is pan-, as in panhuman. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on pan- and pant-.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of panto1
By shortening
Origin of panto-2
Combining form representing Greek pant- (stem of pâs ) all
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Her appearance kick started a showbiz career which also saw her take part in Celebrity Big Brother and star in panto as the Evil Queen in Snow White.
From BBC • Jul. 10, 2026
Alicia describes the panto experience as a "little pressure cooker" as they're up against tight turnarounds and short runs.
From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025
But he said his acting profession did not mean an end to his commitments to the venue, with his panto turn giving opportunity to combine two careers.
From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025
He also appeared in the children's show Mr Majeika before retiring from television in 1990, but he continued to appear as a panto dame in Scotland for several more years.
From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025
"I once was in the chorus in a panto at Hanbridge," she said.
From The Regent by Bennett, Arnold
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.
