skillet

American  

[skil-it] / ˈskɪl ɪt /

noun

1. a frying pan.

2. a cylindrical serving vessel of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, having a hinged lid, a handle, and, sometimes, feet.

3. Chiefly British. a long-handled saucepan.

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skillet British  

/ ˈskɪlɪt /

noun

1. a small frying pan

2. a saucepan

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Etymology

Origin of skillet

1375–1425; late Middle English; origin uncertain

Explanation

A skillet is a round pan that you use to cook things on the stove. Use your skillet to cook bacon and eggs, NOT as a weapon. You can also call a skillet a "frying pan," and in many parts of the English-speaking world, that's what they do. Skillets are primarily used for frying food, but you can also sauté, sear, brown, or scramble in a skillet. In Britain, a skillet is an old-fashioned type of cooking pot with legs. Experts think the word comes from the Middle French esculette, "a little dish," from the Latin root scutella, "serving platter."

Example Sentences

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook sausage until deeply browned and the fat has rendered, about 5–7 minutes.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

I usually get a skillet or an omelet, then combine that with a waffle.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2025

Using an enameled skillet, Syd shows T.J. how to brown the meat along with the onions, then adds tomato paste, explaining that caramelizing it enriches the sauce.

From Salon • Oct. 25, 2025

The catch: Those multiple layers can easily double or triple the price of a basic carbon-steel skillet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

Elizabeth doesn’t have a proper skillet, so we make do with a shallow pan.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Related Words

• bucket
• frying pan
• kettle
• pot
• saucepan
• sheet