Word
Definitions
01storage furniture
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a piece of furniture with shelves, drawers, or doors used for storing things like dishes, tools, or files.
n. a storage case or cupboard with shelves or drawers, often built into a wall or standing as a separate piece of furniture.
日本語:戸棚※
“We keep all the cleaning supplies in the cabinet under the kitchen sink.”
“The carpenter installed custom oak cabinets throughout the kitchen to maximize the available storage space in the narrow room.”
02government advisors
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Politics
n. a group of the most senior politicians who advise a leader and run government departments.
n. the body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the top leaders of the executive branch.
日本語:内閣※
“The president met with her cabinet to discuss the new economic plan.”
“The Prime Minister faced significant pressure to reshuffle the cabinet following the controversial failure of the housing initiative.”
Synonyms
03technical enclosure
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a box or case that holds electrical or mechanical equipment.
n. a protective housing or assembly for electronic, mechanical, or computing equipment.
日本語:キャビネット※
“The server cabinet in the basement was making a loud humming noise.”
“The technician opened the telecommunications cabinet to inspect the wiring for signs of heat damage or corrosion.”
04milkshake
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun American English · Dialect
n. a cold drink made of milk, ice cream, and flavouring.
n. a regional term for a milkshake, specifically one made with coffee or chocolate syrup.
“When we visited Rhode Island, I tried a coffee cabinet for the first time.”
“The local diner is famous for its thick coffee cabinets, a traditional treat that remains a staple of the regional diet.”
Teaching tip
This sense is highly localized to Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts; most English speakers will only know the furniture or political senses.
Synonyms
05private room
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Literary
n. a small, private room for meeting or thinking.
n. a small, private room or chamber, often used for study or confidential business.
“The king retired to his private cabinet to read the secret letters.”
“The diplomat was ushered into a small, dimly lit cabinet where the count awaited him for a private audience.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cabinet” in context.
Verb
01. appoint a shadow cabinet
“The leader of the opposition will appoint a shadow cabinet to scrutinize the government's new policies.”
verb + noun
02. install a kitchen cabinet
“We hired a professional contractor to install a custom kitchen cabinet in the corner.”
verb + noun
03. reshuffle the cabinet
“The Prime Minister decided to reshuffle the cabinet to address growing public concerns about the economy.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. inner cabinet
“The most critical decisions were made by a small inner cabinet of trusted advisors.”
adj + noun
05. locked filing cabinet
“All sensitive documents must be kept in a locked filing cabinet at the end of the day.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. cabinet meeting
“The emergency cabinet meeting lasted for five hours as they discussed the national security threat.”
noun + noun
07. display cabinet
“The museum placed the rare artifacts in a glass display cabinet with reinforced security.”
noun + noun
08. member of the cabinet
“Every member of the cabinet was required to sign the new collective responsibility agreement.”
noun + of + noun
09. cabinet minister
10. cabinet ministers
Real-World Examples
“Far-right National Security Minister Ben-Gvir sits on Israel's security cabinet, which helps shape war and policy.” “Unfortunately, a cabinet minister resigns and publishes a three-page-long letter that contains the phrase "the PM was warned" four times.” Etymology
From cabin + -et, influenced by French cabinet. In sense of “a government group”, compare salon, also named for a room used to gather.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/cabinet
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR