noun
Common
cant
kant
Cant (noun) means the specialized jargon of a particular trade, class, or group. Example: “Sailors developed their own cant that outsiders found hard to follow.”
noun
1
The specialized jargon of a particular trade, class, or group.
"Sailors developed their own cant that outsiders found hard to follow."
"Lawyers often speak in a cant that ordinary people struggle to understand."
"The gamers used so much cant that I could not follow their chat."
2
Insincere or hypocritical talk, especially moralizing speech.
"He dismissed the politician's promises as empty cant."
"I am tired of the cant about family values from people who ignore their own."
"Her speech was full of pious cant, and nobody in the room believed it."
3
A tilt, slope, or angled position.
"The shelf had a slight cant to the left."
"The old fence had a noticeable cant after years of strong wind."
"You could see the cant of the roof from across the road."
verb
1
To tilt or set something at an angle.
"She canted the mirror to catch more light."
"He canted the table slightly so the water would run off."
"The builders canted the beams inwards to give the roof more strength."
How to use cant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither insincere talk, group-specific jargon, or a tilt/slope.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with the contraction "can't" (cannot) — "cant" has no apostrophe and is a completely different word.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- cants
- Third person singular
- cants
- Past tense
- canted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Sailors developed their own _____ that outsiders found hard to follow.
Etymology
From Latin cantare, "to sing," probably through Old French. A doublet of "chant."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cant
See all rhymes for cant →Frequently asked questions
What does “cant” mean?
The word “cant” means the specialized jargon of a particular trade, class, or group. In plain terms, either insincere talk, group-specific jargon, or a tilt/slope.
How do you pronounce “cant”?
“Cant” is pronounced kant (/kænt/ in IPA).
How do you use “cant” in a sentence?
Here is “cant” used in a sentence: “Sailors developed their own cant that outsiders found hard to follow.”
What part of speech is “cant”?
Depending on how it is used, “cant” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cant” come from?
The word “cant” comes from Latin. From Latin cantare, "to sing," probably through Old French. A doublet of "chant.".
Is “cant” a common word?
“Cant” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cant” have?
“Cant” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the specialized jargon of a particular trade, class, or group.
What is the difference between cant and jargon?
Jargon is the neutral technical vocabulary of a profession or field, used for precision. Cant traditionally means the private or specialized language of a particular class or group, sometimes with an implication that it is used to exclude outsiders.
What is the difference between cant and slang?
Slang is informal vocabulary used broadly in casual speech. Cant is narrower, referring either to the specialized jargon of a specific trade or group, or to insincere, moralizing talk.
What is the difference between 'cant' and 'can't'?
They are near-homophones with unrelated meanings. 'Can't' is the contraction of 'cannot,' while 'cant' is a noun meaning specialized jargon or hypocritical, insincere talk. Only 'can't' takes an apostrophe.
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