pantry

[ pan-tree ]

noun

, plural pan·tries.

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.

pantry

/ ˈpæntrɪ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pantry¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pantry¹

C13: via Anglo-Norman, from Old French paneterie store for bread, ultimately from Latin pānis bread

Example Sentences

The rice cakes in my childhood pantry came from Quaker, but at the time there were several different companies competing in what the Chicago Tribune referred to as a “rice cake revolution” in 1986.

From Eater

Anyone who has been cooking and recooking the same simple meals from pantry staples during the pandemic will understand the quest for the platonic ideal of gruel.

From Eater

This is best to find out when you have a stocked pantry at your disposal.

From Outside Online

Advocates have little hope the federal government will help, while state and local governments are strapped for cash and food pantries are being strained.

From Eater

I think what’s happened is, we are moving inventory from warehouses and grocery stores into our pantries and our refrigerators.

From Freakonomics

Parents can stock the pantry with healthy items for breakfast and dinner, but lunch is largely out of their hands.

From The Daily Beast

While Nutella is a relatively new product for American consumers, it has lined European pantry shelves for decades.

From The Daily Beast

At the corner store or in the medicine cabinet or next to the bread in the pantry—all seem closer at hand than black market pot.

From The Daily Beast

He began as a pantry worker in 1952, and was promoted to butler years later.

From The Daily Beast

In fairness, Sabbath (unlike Portnoy) does have the decency to leave the meat pantry untouched.

From The Daily Beast

Besides, with these three hungry visiting children, the addition to her pantry stores would be very timely.

From Project Gutenberg

Behind the veranda three small rooms served for sleeping-room, kitchen, and pantry.

From Project Gutenberg

Here the pantry imitated the parlor, for the academician's mistress was the great lady herself.

From Project Gutenberg

The crickets chirped merrily upon the hearth of the housemaid's pantry, where the remains of a fire still smouldered.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he walked straight to the pantry window, and shading his eyes with his hands, carefully took stock of the interior.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cellar
• closet
• cupboard