canned

adjective

ˈkand 

1

: preserved in a sealed can or jar

canned peaches

canned pumpkin

2

a

: prepared or recorded in advance

especially : prepared in standardized form for nonspecific use or wide distribution

canned laughter

canned music

b

: lacking originality or individuality as if mass-produced

a canned speech

3

slang : drunk sense 1a

Synonyms

• apish
• emulative
• epigonic
• epigonous
• formulaic
• imitative
• mimetic
• mimic
• slavish
• unoriginal

Examples of canned in a Sentence

The salesperson kept using the same canned phrases.

there's a canned quality to the screenplay that reminds you of countless other action movies

Recent Examples on the Web

Thomason maintains that eating canned pumpkin is a big timesaver (and similarly nutritious) compared to buying, breaking down and cooking a whole pumpkin. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024

Another plus: while canned pumpkin is often in short supply during the fall and winter months (and very hard to find the rest of the year), sweet potatoes are abundant in the South. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2024

And if moisture is present, canned goods will rust. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2024

Commenting on the event in a canned quote, Jeanette ze Fürstenberg, Managing Director, Head of Europe at VC fund General Catalyst stressed the need to include startups in the drive to bolster Europe’s defense capabilities. —Trevor Clawson, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

canned

adjective

ˈkand 

1

: preserved in a sealed can or jar

canned peaches

2

a

: prepared or recorded in advance

especially : prepared in one form for ordinary use or wide distribution

canned laughter

b

: lacking originality as if mass-produced

a canned speech