pantry

American  

[pan-tree] / ˈpæn tri /

noun

plural

pantries

1. a room or closet in which food, groceries, and other provisions, or silverware, dishes, etc., are kept.

2. a room between the kitchen and dining room in which food is arranged for serving, glassware and dishes are stored, etc.

3.  food pantry.  a shelter or other place where food is dispensed to people experiencing food insecurity, either as groceries or as meals.

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pantry British  

/ ˈpæntrɪ /

noun

1. a small room or cupboard in which provisions, cooking utensils, etc, are kept; larder

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Etymology

Origin of pantry

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English panetrie, from Anglo-French; Old French paneterie “bread room,” equivalent to panet(er) “to bake bread” (derivative of pan “bread,” from Latin pānis ) + -erie noun suffix; -ery

Example Sentences

Edwards said the number of people using the food pantry is "going up month on month," with between 300 and 400 people now relying on it each month.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Chloe, a single mum who also relies on the pantry, said rising prices have made her anxiety "a lot worse".

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

He installed a Free Fridge, a pantry where people could access donated food.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

The divestment of its remaining food brands would be a milestone for a group that long championed holding pantry and bathroom staples in one corporate cupboard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Akira filled the backpack with water bottles she found in the pantry, and dumped in the apples and bananas that sat in a fruit bowl on the counter.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• cellar
• closet
• cupboard