canned

adjective

ˈkand 

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

Synonyms

• imitative
• imitation
• mock
• copied
• formulaic
• misleading

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

Burmese shops in Milwaukee sell dozens of kinds of canned or jarred items, including pickled ginger, pickled dogfruit, taro root and lotus root. —Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025

Some canned sardines are high in salt, and eating too much could mean excess sodium, Hadley says. —Erica Sweeney, EverydayHealth.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Pre-shredded or canned cheese have anti-caking agents, which can cause clumping in the sauce. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Aug. 2025

My goal there is to support the pantry with fresh produce to complement their canned and dry goods. —Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for canned

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

Kids Definition

canned

adjective

ˈkand 

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