saucepan
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of saucepan
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How does saucepan compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A saucepan is a deep stovetop pan with a long handle and, usually, a lid. You might use a saucepan to cook sauce, or for the macaroni from your box of macaroni and cheese. Saucepans are made out of various materials, from stainless steel and aluminum to copper and enamel-coated metal. If you have a kitchen, it's pretty likely you have a saucepan. They are deep enough to boil water in, and made to be used on top of a flame or electric coil. As you might guess from the name, the first saucepans, invented in the 17th century, were intended only for making sauces.
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.
First, make the filling by melting butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and cooking chopped onions.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026
"It could be a person, it could be an animal, a flower, a film, a photograph in the newspaper, just anything. A saucepan in the kitchen, boiling, you know, the steam coming…"
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2026
In The “Last of Us,” Isaac finally gets that Mauviel saucepan, but there’s no civilization left to host a dinner party.
From Salon ● May 12, 2025
Toss them into a saucepan with a touch of sugar, a sprinkle of salt and a bit of water.
From Salon ● May 6, 2025
Katie held the coffeepot in one hand and the saucepan of hot milk in the other and poured both into the cups simultaneously.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
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.
