What does pot mean?
Pot is a versatile everyday word whose basic meaning is a container, most often a heat-resistant cooking vessel such as a saucepan or stockpot. It can also refer to a flowerpot, a gambling total, a substantial amount of money, or, informally, cannabis. As a verb, pot means to place food or another substance in a container, usually for cooking: one might pot a plant or pot a batch of soup. The word is especially natural in expressions such as “a pot of tea” and “a pot of money,” where it can suggest either a familiar household object or, figuratively, wealth and resources. Its range of meanings reflects the long-standing importance of pots in cooking and storage, while the informal senses have added more specialized and colloquial associations.
A rounded container, usually made of metal, clay, or another heat-resistant material, used for cooking, boiling, or storing food and liquids.
"The vegetables are cooking in a large pot."
A pot is generally smaller and more rounded than a kettle; in culinary contexts, the precise vessel may be specified, as in “saucepan” or “stockpot.”
An informal term for a large amount of money or a source of money.
"The business attracted a pot of investment capital."
This sense is common in informal and journalistic English, especially in phrases such as “a pot of money.”
An informal term for cannabis, or for the dried flowers or substance made from it.
"The song contains lyrics about smoking pot."
This sense is chiefly associated with American English and informal usage.
The total amount of money or chips at risk in a gambling game.
"After the final bet, the pot was worth several thousand dollars."
This is primarily used in card games, casino games, and discussions of poker.
The plural is regularly used for multiple cooking or storage vessels, as well as for pots of money, plants, or other objects.
"She washed the pots and set them beside the stove."
The word pot has moved far beyond the kitchen: it can mean a cooking vessel, a fortune, or cannabis, depending on the company it keeps.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pot come from?
The word pot comes through Middle English from Old French pot, a word for a cooking or storage vessel. Its deeper origin is associated with Latin forms referring to a vessel or drinking container, although the precise development is not entirely straightforward. English later developed related forms such as potter and pottery for people who make or work with vessels, while the separate informal meaning “cannabis” entered English from American slang and has a less certain historical explanation.
Related word forms
How pot is actually used
The standard pronunciation differs noticeably between British and American English. “Pot” meaning cannabis is informal and chiefly associated with American English, although it is understood more widely. The expression “a pot of money” is informal, while “pot” in the sense of a gambling total is mainly used in card and casino games.