kitchen cabinet: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal for political meaning; informal/neutral for furniture meaning.
Quick answer
What does “kitchen cabinet” mean?
A piece of furniture with doors and shelves used for storing kitchen items such as dishes, food, and utensils.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A piece of furniture with doors and shelves used for storing kitchen items such as dishes, food, and utensils.
A small, informal group of trusted advisors to a political leader, operating outside the formal cabinet structure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The furniture term is universal. The political term originated in the US (Andrew Jackson's presidency) but is understood in UK political discourse.
Connotations
In politics, often carries a negative connotation of bypassing official channels and democratic accountability.
Frequency
The furniture meaning is high-frequency in both varieties. The political meaning is medium-frequency in political/news contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “kitchen cabinet” in a Sentence
[Subject] + consulted + his/her + kitchen cabinet.The + kitchen cabinet + is + made of + [material].[Leader] + has + a + kitchen cabinet + of + [people].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “kitchen cabinet” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Prime Minister was accused of kitchen-cabineting major decisions.
- He tends to kitchen cabinet with his old university friends.
American English
- The governor kitchen-cabineted the policy with his campaign team.
- They kitchen-cabinet every Tuesday morning.
adverb
British English
- The decision was made kitchen-cabinet, without minutes.
- He governs rather kitchen-cabinet.
American English
- They operated kitchen-cabinet, away from the press.
- The plan was developed kitchen-cabinet style.
adjective
British English
- The kitchen-cabinet style of governance is controversial.
- He held a kitchen-cabinet meeting at Chequers.
American English
- The kitchen-cabinet approach bypassed the Senate.
- Her kitchen-cabinet advisors had no official titles.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could metaphorically describe a CEO's close, unofficial advisors.
Academic
Used in political science and history to describe informal governance structures.
Everyday
Primarily refers to the physical furniture in a home.
Technical
Used in carpentry, interior design (furniture), and political analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “kitchen cabinet”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “kitchen cabinet”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “kitchen cabinet”
- Using 'kitchen cabinet' to mean 'cupboard under the sink' only (it refers to all wall and base units).
- Confusing the political 'kitchen cabinet' with the official 'Cabinet' (with a capital C).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always, but it often carries a negative connotation as it implies secrecy, informality, and a lack of accountability compared to the official cabinet.
Yes, though it's informal and derived from the noun. It means to make decisions through an informal, close group of advisors (e.g., 'The CEO kitchen-cabineted the merger').
A 'Cabinet' (often capitalised) is the formal, official group of senior ministers. A 'kitchen cabinet' is an unofficial, informal group of personal advisors.
It can be both singular (one cupboard) and plural (the set of all cupboards and storage units in a kitchen).
A piece of furniture with doors and shelves used for storing kitchen items such as dishes, food, and utensils.
Kitchen cabinet is usually formal for political meaning; informal/neutral for furniture meaning. in register.
Kitchen cabinet: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɪtʃɪn ˈkæbɪnət/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɪtʃɪn ˈkæbɪnət/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A kitchen cabinet operation (describes a secretive, informal project).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a leader cooking up plans in the kitchen with friends, not in the formal dining room with the official cabinet.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNANCE IS HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT (The state is a home, the leader is the head of the household, advisors are in the private kitchen).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'kitchen cabinet' most likely refer to a group of people?