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Definition of canteen

canteen

/kænˈtiːn/
can · teen
Plural:canteens
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canteen Lexical Profile

canteen Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A restaurant or dining facility provided by an organization, such as a military base, school, or factory, for its personnel or students.

Example

"The hospital staff usually gather in the canteen for lunch and casual conversation during their breaks."

2

A small, portable container or flask used for carrying drinking water, typically utilized by soldiers, hikers, or campers.

Example

"Before setting out on the long desert trail, she made sure to fill her canteen with fresh water."

3

British A small box or chest specifically designed to hold a complete set of cutlery.

Example

"They received a beautiful wooden canteen of silver cutlery as a wedding gift."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for canteen

• Rhymes for canteen

• Nearby Words

cantankerous
cantankerously
cantata
canteen
canter
canterbury
canterbury bells

Word Origin & Etymology

Mid 16th century: from French 'cantine', from Italian 'cantina' meaning 'wine cellar' or 'vault'. It originally referred to a sutler's shop in a military camp, eventually expanding to mean a dining facility or a soldier's water vessel.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Canteen. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/canteen
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