breadbasket: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “breadbasket” mean?
A container, often woven or made of other materials, used for holding or carrying bread.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A container, often woven or made of other materials, used for holding or carrying bread.
1. A major agricultural region that produces large quantities of grain or other staple food crops. 2. A colloquial term for the stomach or abdomen.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The agricultural/geographic sense is common in both, though often associated with American Midwestern states. The anatomical sense ('stomach') is more informal and slightly more common in AmE.
Connotations
Geographic sense: productive, vital, fertile. Anatomical sense: humorous, slightly old-fashioned.
Frequency
Generally low-frequency. The literal sense (container) is now quite rare in everyday speech, largely replaced by 'bread bin' (BrE) or generic 'basket'.
Grammar
How to Use “breadbasket” in a Sentence
[Geographical area] + is + the breadbasket + of + [region/nation]He took a blow to the breadbasket.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breadbasket” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The breadbasket regions are under threat from drought.
American English
- Breadbasket states like Iowa voted in the election.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in economics or trade discussions regarding food security and agricultural exports (e.g., 'The country relies on its eastern breadbasket.')
Academic
Appears in geography, economics, and history texts to describe regions critical for food supply.
Everyday
Most likely used in its humorous anatomical sense or when discussing farming regions in a non-technical way.
Technical
Used in agricultural planning and geopolitics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “breadbasket”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “breadbasket”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breadbasket”
- Using 'breadbasket' to mean a general food basket (e.g., for fruit). Confusing it with 'breadboard' (for cutting bread).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's relatively low-frequency. The literal sense is rare; the figurative senses are used in specific contexts (geography, informal humour).
No, it is only used as a noun.
They are synonyms in the geographic sense, but 'granary' can also mean the building where grain is stored, while 'breadbasket' only refers to the region itself.
It's informal and humorous, not typically rude, but it's very colloquial and slightly old-fashioned. Context is key.
A container, often woven or made of other materials, used for holding or carrying bread.
Breadbasket is usually informal, figurative in register.
Breadbasket: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbredˌbɑːskɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbredˌbæskɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A punch in the breadbasket.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large basket (breadbasket) full of bread being the 'stomach' of a country, producing its essential food.
Conceptual Metaphor
REGION AS CONTAINER FOR FOOD SOURCE / STOMACH AS CONTAINER FOR FOOD
Practice
Quiz
In a geopolitical context, what does 'breadbasket' primarily refer to?