cabinet

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'cabinet' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a piece of furniture that typically has shelves and drawers for storing items or to the group of ministers responsible for running a government. Example sentence: The Prime Minister met with the Cabinet to discuss new policy measures.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Keneally said her involvement in the proposal came at the "pointy end" and what was presented to her was a bad cabinet minute.

The Guardian

Brown repeatedly said he did not recall specifics about altering the cabinet minute or who instructed him to change it.

The Guardian

Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as prime minister for a second time, three years after being deposed, and now faces the daunting task of reworking policy and replacing more than one-third of the cabinet just months before an election.

The Guardian

He said Kelly "did not agree" with the original minute and, when asked what comment Kelly had made when he was shown the original, Brown replied: "None, I don't think … It was obviously a minute prepared by someone who didn't have a lot of experience in writing cabinet minutes.

The Guardian

The original misattributed words spoken by Laurie Brown to Phillip Costa and mistakenly said Costa said he may have given instructions for the cabinet minute to be changed and admitted making alterations.

The Guardian

But Fox's pledge to maintain Britain's ability to wage war unilaterally, cooperate with France while snubbing the EU's defence agency, cutting Whitehall staff and reforming wasteful procurement (again) does not sound like tough realism, especially when combined with Cameron's gimmicky "war cabinet" and national security adviser approach.

The Guardian - Opinion

But with cabinet ministers, Labour MPs and Lib Dem activists all warning against excess Lib-Lab intimacy, that may prove a forlorn hope.

The Guardian

"Alex said to the cabinet: are we going to go for it, or not?

The Guardian

To date, only one cabinet minister and a few junior officials have been arrested.

The Guardian

However, Lord O'Donnell, the former cabinet secretary who was intimately involved in the 2010 negotiations, said the key constitutional requirement for a prime minister is simply the ability to command the confidence of the House of Commons.

The Guardian

After a bruising cabinet discussion on the citizenship issue was leaked to the media, the Abbott government is still considering stripping sole citizens suspected of terrorist offences if they can potentially access citizenship elsewhere.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific government's "cabinet", capitalize the term. For example, "The Prime Minister addressed the Cabinet."

Common error

Avoid using "cabinet" when you specifically mean a "closet". "Cabinet" usually refers to a piece of furniture with shelves or a group of governmental advisors, while "closet" is a storage space built into a wall.

Linguistic Context

The word "cabinet" functions primarily as a noun, denoting either a piece of furniture used for storage or a group of advisors in a government. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it is often modified by adjectives or used in prepositional phrases to specify its type or location.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "cabinet" is a versatile noun with distinct meanings depending on the context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used. Predominantly found in "News & Media" and "Formal & Business" settings, "cabinet" refers either to a storage unit or, more commonly, a group of governmental advisors. To ensure clarity, capitalize "Cabinet" when referring to a specific governmental body and consider context-appropriate alternatives like "government ministry" or "storage unit". Remember to avoid confusing it with similar terms like "closet". The prevalence of "cabinet" in authoritative sources like The Guardian and BBC underscores its relevance in contemporary English usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

government ministry

Refers specifically to the governmental department, emphasizing its administrative function rather than the collective body of advisors.

council of ministers

Highlights the collaborative aspect of decision-making among ministers, focusing on their collective role.

advisory board

Emphasizes the consultative nature of the group, suggesting a focus on providing advice rather than direct governance.

executive committee

Focuses on the executive powers and decision-making responsibilities of the group, often in a business context.

governing body

A more general term referring to any group with the authority to govern or oversee an organization.

storage unit

Emphasizes the physical aspect of a "cabinet" as a place for storing items, rather than its political meaning.

display case

Highlights the function of a "cabinet" to showcase or exhibit items, shifting the focus from storage to presentation.

cupboard

A more common and informal term for a "cabinet" used for storing household items.

locker

Suggests a secure storage space, typically for personal belongings, differing from the broader storage function of a "cabinet".

milkshake

Refers to a less common, colloquial usage of "cabinet" to describe a milkshake in some regions.

FAQs

How is "cabinet" used in political contexts?

In political contexts, "cabinet" refers to the group of senior government officials, typically ministers, who advise the head of state or head of government on policy. It is often used in phrases like "cabinet meeting" or "cabinet reshuffle".

What are some alternative terms for the political "cabinet"?

Depending on the context, you could use "government ministry", "council of ministers", or "executive committee". These phrases emphasize different aspects of the group's function.

How can I use "cabinet" to refer to furniture?

When referring to furniture, "cabinet" denotes a storage unit with shelves or drawers. You might say "display the china in the cabinet" or "store tools in the cabinet."

Is it correct to capitalize "cabinet"?

Capitalize "Cabinet" when referring to a specific governmental body, such as "the President's Cabinet". Use lowercase "cabinet" when referring to the furniture item.