corner cabinet: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to Formal in furniture context; Specialized in political context.
Quick answer
What does “corner cabinet” mean?
A cabinet or set of shelves designed to fit into the corner of a room, often used for storage or display.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cabinet or set of shelves designed to fit into the corner of a room, often used for storage or display.
In politics, it can refer to a private meeting of a small, influential group (a 'kitchen cabinet'), especially one held in a corner of a room. In sports (like snooker or pool), it can refer to a specific pocket at a corner of the table, but this is less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core furniture meaning. The political sense may be more familiar in British historical/political discourse.
Connotations
Neutral for furniture. The political sense can connote secrecy, exclusivity, or unofficial influence.
Frequency
Higher frequency in home improvement, interior design, and furniture retail contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “corner cabinet” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] corner cabinet [VERB]...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corner cabinet” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to corner-cabinet the old china. (Highly non-standard, hypothetical)
American English
- We need to corner-cabinet those supplies. (Highly non-standard, hypothetical)
adjective
British English
- It's a clever corner-cabinet solution. (Hyphenated compound adjective)
American English
- We looked at corner-cabinet options. (Hyphenated compound adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in retail (furniture sales), interior design proposals, and construction/renovation specifications.
Academic
Rare; might appear in history/political science texts referencing informal advisory groups.
Everyday
Common when discussing home organization, kitchen/bathroom renovations, or furniture shopping.
Technical
Used in architectural plans, carpentry, and cabinetry with specific dimensions for corner installations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “corner cabinet”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “corner cabinet”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corner cabinet”
- Using 'cupboard' and 'cabinet' interchangeably (they can overlap, but 'cabinet' often implies more finished construction). Spelling as one word: 'cornercabinet'. Misunderstanding the political term as a physical piece of furniture.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two separate words, though it may be hyphenated when used as a compound adjective (e.g., corner-cabinet design).
Its main purpose is to utilise otherwise awkward or unused corner space in a room for storage or display.
Yes, while many are built-in, freestanding corner cabinets are also common, especially antique or display cabinets.
It is a metaphorical extension, imagining a small, private group meeting in a corner of a room, much like a physical cabinet tucked into a corner.
A cabinet or set of shelves designed to fit into the corner of a room, often used for storage or display.
Corner cabinet is usually neutral to formal in furniture context; specialized in political context. in register.
Corner cabinet: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːnə ˈkæbɪnɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːrnər ˈkæbɪnɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Political] To be part of the corner cabinet (rare).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CABINET that is squeezed into a CORNER to save space.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CORNER CABINET is a CONTAINER for objects; in politics, it's a CONTAINER for secret discussions.
Practice
Quiz
In a historical political context, what might a 'corner cabinet' refer to?