closet

[ kloz-it ]

noun

1. a small room, enclosed recess, or cabinet for storing clothing, food, utensils, etc.
2. a small private room, especially one used for prayer, meditation, etc.
3. a state or condition of secrecy or carefully guarded privacy:

   Some conservatives remain in the closet except on election day. Gay liberation has encouraged many gay people to come out of the closet.

4. water closet.

adjective

1. private; secluded.
2. suited for use or enjoyment in privacy:

   closet reflections; closet prayer.

3. engaged in private study or speculation; speculative; unpractical:

   a closet thinker with no practical experience.

4. being or functioning as such in private; secret:

   a closet anarchist.

verb (used with object)

1. to shut up in a private room for a conference, interview, etc. (usually used in the passive voice):

   The secretary of state was closeted with the senator for three hours in a tense session.

closet

/ ˈklɒzɪt /

noun

1. a small cupboard or recess
2. a small private room
3. short for water closet
4. modifier private or secret
5. modifier suited or appropriate for use in private

   closet meditations

6. modifier based on or devoted to theory; speculative

   a closet strategist

verb

1. tr to shut up or confine in a small private room, esp for conference or meditation

Word History and Origins

Origin of closet¹

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French, equivalent to clos close (noun) + -et -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of closet¹

C14: from Old French, from clos enclosure; see close ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see come out of the closet ; skeleton in the closet .

Example Sentences

Teal debuted on Season 7 of the teen drama in 2010, playing the closeted actor in a seven-episode arc that ended with him coming out to as gay.

From Los Angeles Times

Each shop or closet is an amalgamation of history, energy and life, merchandised for discovery.

From Los Angeles Times

Write your own “Disgraced CEO found in dark closet of old office” headline here.

From Los Angeles Times

Maybe it was languishing at the back of a Silver Lake dad’s closet.

From Los Angeles Times

Implicit in many discussions about "unity" was a hope that all those liberals would shut up, bend the knee, go back into the closet, or whatever else it takes to hide or eradicate difference.

From Salon

Related Words

• cabinet
• container
• locker
• room
• vault
• wardrobe