cant Definition
- 1insincere or hypocritical talk, typically of a moral, religious, or political nature
- 2specialized vocabulary of a particular group or profession, often used to exclude outsiders
- 3a slope or tilt
Using cant: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "cant" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The politician's speech was filled with cant and empty promises.
Example
The legal cant made it difficult for the layman to understand the proceedings.
Example
The book is full of cant expressions used by sailors.
Example
The cant of the roof made it difficult to install the solar panels.
cant Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for cant
Idioms Using cant
Example
He talks the cant of social justice but does nothing to actually help those in need.
Example
The preacher's cant and hypocrisy were exposed when he was caught embezzling church funds.
Example
Many people are turned off by the cant of the pulpit and prefer to practice their faith in private.
Phrases with cant
Example
I'm tired of his whining cant about how hard his life is.
shopkeeper's cant
a secret language used by thieves and beggars to communicate with each other, often involving rhyming slang
Example
The novel includes a lot of shopkeeper's cant, which can be difficult to decipher without a glossary.
Example
The cant of the day in Silicon Valley is all about 'disruptive innovation' and 'scalable solutions.'
Origins of cant
from Old North French 'cant', meaning 'corner' or 'edge'
Summary: cant in Brief
'Cant' [kænt] refers to insincere or hypocritical talk, often of a moral, religious, or political nature. It can also refer to specialized vocabulary used by particular groups or professions. Additionally, 'cant' can mean a slope or tilt, as in 'The cant of the roof made it difficult to install the solar panels.' Phrases like 'whining cant' and idioms like 'talk the cant' emphasize the insincerity or hypocrisy of the speaker.