canned

[kænd]

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can

A canned product is something that's been sealed and preserved in a can. You'll often see canned vegetables or fruits in supermarkets.

When we talk about something being "canned", it usually means it's been edited down to a shorter version, like a TV show or movie that's been condensed for time. But "canned" also refers to food products that are packaged in metal cans, sealed and ready to eat. It can even mean an idea or response that seems fake or unnatural, like a politician giving a scripted answer instead of being honest. In this last sense, something is "canned" because it's been rehearsed or planned out ahead of time, rather than coming from the heart.

How common is "canned"?

Word canned is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

verb

To seal in a can.
Example: They canned air to sell as a novelty to tourists.
To preserve by heating and sealing in a jar or can.
Example: They spent August canning fruit and vegetables.
To discard, scrap or terminate (an idea, project, etc.).
Example: He canned the whole project because he thought it would fail.
To shut up.
Example: Can your gob.
To fire or dismiss an employee.
Example: The boss canned him for speaking out.
To hole the ball.

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adjective

Preserved in cans.
Example: canned tomatoes
(by extension) Previously prepared; not fresh or new; standardized, mass produced, or lacking originality or customization.
Example: The form letter included a canned answer stating that what I asked was against policy.
Drunk.
Terminated, fired from a job.

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Real examples of "canned" in context

Jason Momoa's Full Interview on The Ellen Show

Interview

so people could have...could use canned water,

6:56