What is the difference between a cupboard and a cabinet?

Answer 1

Hi Anita.

This was a very good question.

A cupboard is a cabinet; but a cabinet is not always a cupboard.

Sound confusing? ;-) It can be, but I'll explain.

1) Cupboard — a cupboard is a cabinet, usually with a door and shelves, used for storage.

This word was originally from late Middle English. It denoted a table or SIDEBOARD on which cups, plates, etc., were displayed. Combine CUP + BOARD.

The piece of furniture frequently used, that most commonly represents a cupboard, in this day and age, would be a BREAKFRONT. You have probably seen them, may even have one in your home. It is tall — the top half has glass doors, behind which you can see plates & cups that are displayed. The bottom half, which angles out a bit, is comprised of drawers, where typically stored are table linens, silverware, etc. This piece of furniture is usually placed in the dining room.

Also, any kitchen cabinets are also called cupboards; cabinet is a synonym for cupboard. We just do not all refer to kitchen cabinets as cupboards. In certain parts of the country (U.S.), people do call kitchen cabinets cupboards; in other areas, they are simply called cabinets.

A cupboard IS a cabinet. But, as I said, a cabinet is NOT always a cupboard. ;-)
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2) Cabinet —
• a cabinet is a cupboard, usually with a door and
shelves, used for storage;
• a cabinet is a box or container or a piece of
wooden furniture to house a TV, radio, speaker, etc.
• a cabinet is a body of advisers to the President, i.e.,
a cabinet meeting.

I threw in the last one for fun; I know we're discussing furniture. ;-)

A cabinet is any type of furniture with doors & shelves, used for storage. It could be a cupboard or a TV storage unit, or an entertainment unit. It can be a type of closet.

So, you see, a cupboard IS a cabinet, always. But a cabinet MAY or may NOT be a cupboard.
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To explain this, I usually tell people what my father used to tell me. Of course this was before my time, but not for my dad. To explain these types of situations, he said, "all cops are men, but not all men are cops." Of course his description would have been more valid back in the stupid days, when women could not become cops.

I hope this has been helpful to you, Anita. It WAS an interesting question. I love anything that has to do with the use of language, words.

Thank you.

Answer 2

There was a distinction many years ago. A cupboard was a freestanding piece of furniture sometimes as large as an armoire that housed anything from kitchen items to display items. Cupboard is an old word but today many people use it to mean the same thing as a kitchen cabinet.

Answer 3

They mean the same thing. It depends upon which word you were taught by your parents. The only REAL difference is that 'cabinets' is a more formal word.

Answer 4

cabinets are built in, while cupboards are free standing

Answer 5

cabinets are affixed to the wall and are usually smaller than a floor to ceiling cupboard

Answer 6

Only one! Cabinets are having shutters.

Answer 7

The difference is where you're from. I believe different areas call it by different names.