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panto

1 American  
[pan-toh] / ˈpæn toʊ /

noun

British.

plural

pantos
  1. pantomime.


panto- 2 American  
  1. a combining form synonymous with pan-:

    pantology.


panto 1 British  
/ ˈpæntəʊ /

noun

  1. informal short for pantomime

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

panto- 2 British  

combining form

  1. all

    pantisocracy

    pantofle

    pantograph

    pantomime

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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-.

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.

It's not just actors who are fans of panto, shows have been steadily drawing in crowds across the UK.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025

But even if she hadn't, she would still love the world of panto.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025

"We have a gap over Christmas and luckily I was able to audition and find a panto that could just fit my dates, otherwise I would have no income over Christmas," she says.

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

Mrs. Ewings doesn’t like panto, or I’d have taken her too.

From The Early Life and Adventures of Sylvia Scarlett by MacKenzie, Compton