1
: preserved in a sealed can or jar
canned peaches
canned pumpkin
2
a
: prepared or recorded in advance
especially : prepared in standardized form for nonspecific use or wide distribution
canned laughter
canned music
b
: lacking originality or individuality as if mass-produced
a canned speech
3
slang : drunk sense 1a

Examples of canned in a Sentence

The salesperson kept using the same canned phrases. there's a canned quality to the screenplay that reminds you of countless other action movies
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The drink selection is limited — craft beers, Northern California wines, hard seltzers, and canned cocktails. Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025 With a 76-can capacity, there’s plenty of room in this cooler for canned beverages, sandwiches, fruit, and other summer snacks and treats. Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 May 2025 Interviewers are more attuned than ever to canned or inauthentic responses. Andrew Fennell, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 Dessert Options Multiply While canned and frozen options may be available year-round, there’s no denying that fresh fruit just tastes better—especially when baked into a cobbler or churned into ice cream. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for canned

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of canned was in 1856

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Cite this Entry

“Canned.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canned. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

canned

adjective
1
: preserved in a sealed can or jar
canned peaches
2
a
: prepared or recorded in advance
especially : prepared in one form for ordinary use or wide distribution
canned laughter
b
: lacking originality as if mass-produced
a canned speech

More from Merriam-Webster on canned

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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