noun
cutlery
KUHT-luh-ree
Cutlery (noun) means Knives, forks, spoons, and other tools used for eating or serving food. Example: “She set the table with fresh cutlery for the dinner party.”
noun
1
Knives, forks, spoons, and other tools used for eating or serving food.
"She set the table with fresh cutlery for the dinner party."
"The restaurant polishes its cutlery before every service."
2
Cutting implements in general, especially knives and blades.
"The shop sells cutlery ranging from kitchen knives to hunting blades."
How to use cutlery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKnives, forks, and spoons collectively — what you eat with.
UK vs US
In British English, "cutlery" covers knives, forks, and spoons; American English often calls the same items "silverware" or "flatware" even when they aren't silver.
Common pairings
a set of cutlery
silver cutlery
plastic cutlery
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Word forms
- Plural
- cutleries
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She set the table with fresh _____ for the dinner party.
Etymology
From Old French coutelerie, the trade of a coutelier (cutler, or knife-maker).
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cutlery
See all rhymes for cutlery →Frequently asked questions
What does “cutlery” mean?
The word “cutlery” means knives, forks, spoons, and other tools used for eating or serving food. In plain terms, knives, forks, and spoons collectively — what you eat with.
How do you pronounce “cutlery”?
“Cutlery” is pronounced KUHT-luh-ree (/ˈkʌt.lə.ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “cutlery” in a sentence?
Here is “cutlery” used in a sentence: “She set the table with fresh cutlery for the dinner party.”
What is another word for “cutlery”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cutlery” include cutleryware, silverware, flatware, feastware and utensils.
What part of speech is “cutlery”?
“Cutlery” is a noun.
Where does the word “cutlery” come from?
The word “cutlery” comes from Old French. From Old French coutelerie, the trade of a coutelier (cutler, or knife-maker).
How many meanings does “cutlery” have?
“Cutlery” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: knives, forks, spoons, and other tools used for eating or serving food.
