Larder is a noun with two related meanings. It can refer to a small room or cupboardA closed piece of furniture with shelves for storing items where food is kept, or more broadlyIn a general way; not limited to a narrow meaning to a supply of food for a householdAll the people living together in one home.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈlɑrdər/
Easy pronunciation: LAR-der (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: LAR-der.
Used here in the sense of a small storeroom for storing food or wine.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Larder Meaning
a room or cupboard used to keep food
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a small storeroom for storing food or wine
Example: She kept jars of jam and bread in the larder.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- pantry — A common substitute in modern English for a room or cupboard used to store food.
- buttery — An older or more traditional term for a storage room for food and drink.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Larder
Meaning 2
the food supply a household has on hand
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a supply of food especially for a household
Example: We stocked the larder for the winter.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Larder Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- pantry
- buttery
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes think larder means any kitchen, but it specifically refers to food storage or stored food.
- It is not usually used for the act of storing food, only the place or the supply itself.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does larder mean?
Larder means either a small room or cupboard for storing food, or the food supply kept on hand in a household.
What are the synonyms of larder?
For the food-storage room meaning, common synonyms are pantry and buttery. For the food-supply meaning, there are few exact synonyms, but it refers to a household's stores of food.
Is larder still used in modern English?
Yes, but it is less common than pantry in everyday American English. It is still understood in British English and in more formal or traditional writing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.