cabinet

1 of 2

noun

cab·​i·​net ˈkab-nit How to pronounce cabinet (audio)
ˈka-bə-
1
a
: a case or cupboard usually having doors and shelves
a kitchen cabinet
a medicine cabinet
b
: a collection of specimens especially of biological or numismatic interest
a butterfly display cabinet
d
: a chamber having temperature and humidity controls and used especially for incubating biological samples
2
a
archaic : a small room providing seclusion
b
: a small exhibition room in a museum
3
a archaic
(1)
: the private room serving as council chamber of the chief councillors or ministers of a sovereign
(2)
: the consultations and actions of these councillors
b(1)
often capitalized : a body of advisers of a head of state
the president's cabinet
(2)
: a similar advisory council of a governor of a state or a mayor
c
British : a meeting of a cabinet
4
New England : milkshake

cabinet

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or relating to a governmental cabinet (see cabinet entry 1 sense 3b)
held a cabinet meeting
2
: suitable by reason of size for a small room or by reason of attractiveness or perfection for preservation and display in a cabinet
porcelain cabinet plates
3
a
: used or adapted for cabinetmaking
b
: done or used by a cabinetmaker

Examples of cabinet in a Sentence

Noun a member of the President's Cabinet the most precious knickknacks were kept in a cabinet with glass doors
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
While some people take supplements by the handful, nutrition experts tend to keep only a few key options in their medicine cabinets during the chillier months. Marley Hall, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024 If stains are still slightly visible, consider masking them with furniture polish on wood cabinets or touching up paint where needed. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Those include several ex-cabinet ministers, as well as former military leader William Kaliman and the police chief who had urged Morales to resign in November 2019 after the country was swept by protests against the country's first Indigenous president. Carlos Valdez, Star Tribune, 13 Mar. 2021 For example, the former president is backing his ex-cabinet member Rogerio Marinho’s bid to lead the Senate in a key election Wednesday. Maria Luiza Rabello, Bloomberg.com, 1 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for cabinet 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cabinet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle French, small room, diminutive of Middle French dialect (Picard) cabine gambling house

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cabinet was circa 1549

Dictionary Entries Near cabinet

Cite this Entry

“Cabinet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cabinet. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

cabinet

noun
cab·​i·​net
ˈkab-(ə-)nət
1
a
: a case or cupboard usually having doors and shelves
b
: a case for a radio or television
2
: a group of advisers to the political head of a government
the British cabinet
the president's cabinet

More from Merriam-Webster on cabinet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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