cannery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialist / Historical
Quick answer
What does “cannery” mean?
A factory where food, especially fish or fruit, is processed and sealed in metal cans for preservation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A factory where food, especially fish or fruit, is processed and sealed in metal cans for preservation.
Can metaphorically refer to any highly mechanised or repetitive processing facility, or to a place where creative output is standardised. Also appears in historical and geographical contexts related to industrial food production.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. The word is used in both varieties but is more frequent in North American English due to the historical prominence of salmon canneries on the US/Canadian west coast and fruit canning in California.
Connotations
In British English, it may have stronger historical connotations. In American English, it can be more geographically specific (e.g., associated with Alaska, Pacific Northwest, California).
Frequency
The word is more frequently encountered in American English texts, both historical and contemporary, relating to food industry, economic history, or regional geography.
Grammar
How to Use “cannery” in a Sentence
The cannery + verb (closed, operates, employs)cannery + preposition + location (in, on, at)adjective + cannery (abandoned, bustling, automated)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in historical business analysis, supply chain discussions for preserved goods, or in heritage industry contexts.
Academic
Found in economic history, industrial archaeology, and geographical studies of food systems.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used when discussing local history, a job, or a novel/film like 'Cannery Row'.
Technical
Used in food technology, industrial engineering history, and environmental studies of former industrial sites (e.g., 'brownfield cannery site').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cannery”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cannery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cannery”
- Misspelling as 'canery' (one 'n'). Using it to refer to a place where cans are made (that's a 'tin can factory' or 'can manufacturing plant'). Confusing it with 'cannary' (a misspelling of 'canary').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while historically associated with fish (especially salmon and sardines), canneries also process fruits, vegetables, and other foods. 'Fruit cannery' is a common collocation.
A 'cannery' is a specific type of factory. All canneries are factories, but not all factories are canneries. 'Factory' is a general term; 'cannery' specifies the activity of canning food.
It is a low-frequency, specialised noun with very specific historical and industrial connotations. It is not needed for general communication but is important for advanced learners engaging with historical, economic, or literary texts.
No, 'cannery' is solely a noun. The related verb is 'to can' (e.g., 'They can salmon at the plant').
A factory where food, especially fish or fruit, is processed and sealed in metal cans for preservation.
Cannery is usually specialist / historical in register.
Cannery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkænəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkænəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like working in a cannery (meaning: repetitive, smelly, industrial work)”
- “cannery row (can refer to the specific street in Monterey, California, or metaphorically to a run-down industrial area)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CAN + FACTORY. A 'cannery' is the factory where they make things go IN A CAN.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CANNERY IS A MACHINE FOR PRESERVATION (transforms perishable goods into stable commodities). A CANNERY IS A PLACE OF REPETITIVE LABOUR.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary activity in a cannery?