closet

The word “closet” means a small enclosed storage space, especially for clothes (mainly American usage).

“Closet” is pronounced KLO-ziht (/ˈklɑzɪt/ in IPA).

Here is “closet” used in a sentence: “She hung her coat in the hallway closet.”

Depending on how it is used, “closet” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.

The word “closet” comes from Old French. From Old French closet, a small private space, itself from clos ("enclosed") plus the diminutive ending -et.

“Closet” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Closet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small enclosed storage space, especially for clothes (mainly American usage).

In American English a closet is usually a small, walk-in or built-in storage space, especially for clothes, while 'cupboard' is the more common British word for an enclosed storage space with shelves. British speakers tend to use 'wardrobe' for clothes and 'cupboard' for other storage.

A closet is a built-in storage space, often a small room, mainly in American usage, while a wardrobe is typically a freestanding piece of furniture for hanging clothes. Both often describe clothes storage but differ in whether the space is part of the room or a separate unit.

These phrases use 'closet' in its adjective sense of something kept secret or hidden, especially about a person's identity. To be 'in the closet' is to keep that identity private, while to 'come out of the closet' is to reveal it openly.

A closet is a storage space large enough to step into or built into a wall, while a cabinet is a smaller piece of furniture with doors and shelves, such as a kitchen or bathroom cabinet. You hang clothes in a closet but store dishes or medicine in a cabinet.