saucepan

American  

[saws-pan] / ˈsɔsˌpæn /

noun

1. a metal container of moderate depth, usually having a long handle and sometimes a cover, for stewing, boiling, etc.

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saucepan British  

/ ˈsɔːspən /

noun

1. a metal or enamel pan with a long handle and often a lid, used for cooking food

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Etymology

Origin of saucepan

First recorded in 1680–90; sauce + pan ¹

Compare meaning

How does saucepan compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• saucepan vs. frying pan

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

"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

I melted a knob of butter in a small saucepan, then a spoonful of the dried leaves.

From Salon • Aug. 26, 2025

Simmer the tomatoes: In a saucepan over medium heat, cook the tomatoes down until soft and juicy, about 10–15 minutes.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2025

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and continue cooking, stirring often, until it foams and begins to brown — about 5–7 minutes.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2025

The next moment, one of the cooks came along with a gigantic saucepan of steaming green soup and poured the whole lot into the silver basin.

From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl

Related Words

• basin
• bowl
• bucket
• can
• cup
• jar
• jug
• kettle
• mug
• pan
• urn
• vessel