Word

cabinet

noun C1

/ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/

A cabinet is a piece of furniture with doors or drawers used for storing things.

Meanings

noun

A piece of furniture with shelves, doors, and/or drawers for storing items.

noun

A group of senior government ministers who meet to make important decisions and advise a head of government.

Definition

A cabinet is a storage unit, often made of wood or metal, with shelves, doors, and sometimes drawers. People use cabinets to keep items organized and out of sight in homes, offices, and workshops. The word can also refer to a group of top government ministers who advise a leader and make major policy decisions.

Examples

I found the spare keys in the cabinet above the sink, exactly where I had left them.
You should lock the cabinet if the equipment inside needs to be kept secure.
She installed a new cabinet in her studio to keep paints and brushes organized.
They criticized the cabinet for delaying a clear response to the crisis.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse cabinet with cupboard; cabinet is often a freestanding or built-in unit with shelves/doors, while cupboard is more general for storage space, especially in British English.