What does "galley" mean?
A long, slender ship propelled primarily by oars, whether having masts and sails or not; usually a rowed warship used in the Mediterranean from the 16th century until the modern era.
Galley
/ˈɡæli/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A long, slender ship propelled primarily by oars, whether having masts and sails or not; usually a rowed warship used in the Mediterranean from the 16th century until the modern era.
- Grammar: galley is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cookhouse, bakehouse, bakery, bireme.
- Useful contrasts: civilian ship, final edition, merchant vessel.
- Usage evidence: This apartment has a galley kitchen.
How to use "galley"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "galley" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "galley" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "galley" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "galley" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "galley" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cookhouse" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "galley", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A long, slender ship propelled primarily by oars, whether having masts and sails or not; usually a rowed warship used in the Mediterranean from the 16th century until the modern era. historical
- 2 the area for food preparation on a ship wordnet
- 3 A light, open boat used on the Thames by customhouse officers, press gangs, and also for pleasure. British
- 4 the kitchen area for food preparation on an airliner wordnet
- 5 One of the small boats carried by a man-of-war.
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 (classical antiquity) a crescent-shaped seagoing vessel propelled by oars wordnet
- 7 The cookroom or kitchen and cooking apparatus of a vessel or aircraft; sometimes on merchant vessels called the caboose.
- 8 a large medieval vessel with a single deck propelled by sails and oars with guns at stern and prow; a complement of 1,000 men; used mainly in the Mediterranean for war and trading wordnet
- 9 An oblong oven or muffle with a battery of retorts; a gallery furnace.
- 10 An oblong tray of wood or brass, with upright sides, for holding type which has been set, or is to be made up, etc.
"It was very nerve-racking. When I was finally able to write the story, I wrote it at the typewriter and never reread it until I had to edit the typos on the printer's galleys for the publication of the book."
- 11 A proof sheet taken from type while on a galley; a galley proof.
- 12 A representation of a single-masted ship propelled by oars, with three flags and a basket.
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Antonyms
civilian shipfinal editionmerchant vesselpublished copy
Example
"This apartment has a galley kitchen."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "galley"?
Common synonyms include: cookhouse, bakehouse, bakery, bireme, blue, blueprint.
How do you use "galley" in a sentence?
This apartment has a galley kitchen.
How do you pronounce "galley"?
Pronounced /ˈɡæli/.
Etymology
From Middle English galeie, from Old French galee, from Latin galea, from Byzantine Greek γάλεα (gálea) of unknown origin, probably from Ancient Greek γαλέη (galéē), a kind of a small fish, from γαλεός (galeós, “dog-fish or small shark”).