hollowware: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Commercial
Quick answer
What does “hollowware” mean?
Vessels or containers such as pots, bowls, cups, and pitchers, made of a rigid material (like metal, ceramic, or glass), that are essentially hollow and designed to hold something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Vessels or containers such as pots, bowls, cups, and pitchers, made of a rigid material (like metal, ceramic, or glass), that are essentially hollow and designed to hold something.
The category of tableware or kitchenware comprising items that hold food or drink, as opposed to flatware (cutlery) or cutlery. In retail and manufacturing, it refers to deep or hollow goods sold by weight.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'Hollowware' is standard in both, but 'Holloware' is a rare, chiefly British variant. Conceptually identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term has strong commercial/technical connotations (e.g., inventory lists, product catalogues). In a domestic context, it sounds formal or specialist.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to specific industries and formal descriptions.
Grammar
How to Use “hollowware” in a Sentence
[Material] + hollowware (e.g., silver hollowware)hollowware + [for purpose] (e.g., hollowware for the dining table)a collection/piece/set of hollowwareVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hollowware” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The hollowware department is on the third floor.
- A fine hollowware set was presented to the ambassador.
American English
- The hollowware section of the catalog features coffee pots.
- They specialize in hollowware manufacturing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in manufacturing, wholesale, and retail, especially for precious metals, housewares, and kitchenware. E.g., 'Our Q3 report shows a 15% increase in hollowware sales.'
Academic
Used in material culture studies, history of design, archaeology. E.g., 'The excavation yielded numerous fragments of ceramic hollowware.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. A layperson might encounter it in an auction catalogue or a high-end department store description.
Technical
Standard term in metallurgy (e.g., silverware production), ceramics, and industrial design for deep-formed objects.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hollowware”
- Using 'hollowware' to refer to a single spoon or fork (these are flatware).
- Using the term in casual conversation where 'pots and pans' or 'bowls' would be more natural.
- Misspelling as 'hollowwear' (confusion with 'clothing/wear').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Cookware is specifically for cooking (pots, pans). Hollowware is broader, including items for serving and holding food/drink that may not be used for cooking, like tea sets, bowls, and pitchers.
It is highly uncommon and sounds technical. In everyday situations, use specific terms like 'bowls', 'pots', 'jugs', or the general term 'serving dishes'.
Hollowware refers to containers with depth designed to hold contents (bowls, pots). Flatware refers to relatively flat utensils for eating and serving (knives, forks, spoons, serving trays).
No, it can refer to items made of ceramic, glass, or other rigid materials. However, the term is most frequently used in contexts involving metals like silver, pewter, or stainless steel.
Vessels or containers such as pots, bowls, cups, and pitchers, made of a rigid material (like metal, ceramic, or glass), that are essentially hollow and designed to hold something.
Hollowware is usually formal, technical, commercial in register.
Hollowware: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒləʊweə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑːloʊwer/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical/category term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HOLLOW WAREhouse filled with empty bowls and pots (WARE). The word itself combines 'hollow' and 'ware' (as in goods).
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINERS ARE HOLLOW BODIES (The category is defined by the essential hollow property of the objects).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the term 'hollowware' MOST likely to be used correctly?