English Reference
Noun

skillet

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈskɪɫət/ UK /skˈɪlɪt/ skil·let UK spelling skillets

n.a heavy frying pan with a long handle. You use it to cook food like eggs or meat on top of the stove.

n.a shallow, flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. Often made of cast iron or stainless steel; synonymous with 'frying pan' in North American English.


SIMPLE

He fried the eggs in a cast-iron skillet.

CONTEXTUAL

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat before adding the chopped onions.

COMPLEX

The recipe requires a heavy-bottomed skillet to ensure the heat is distributed evenly across the surface of the steak while searing.

Usage

Commonly used in North American English; 'frying pan' is more frequent in British English.

There was a time where I thought I would have to replace a skillet after a roommate burned the hell out of what she cooked in it.

The Guardian· 21 Aug 2026

From Old French escuëlette, diminutive of escuëlle (“a porringer”), (French écuelle), from Vulgar Latin scutella, diminutive of scutra, scuta (“tray, dish”). Compare scuttle (“basket”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old French escuelette
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated