Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tin-pot

/ˈtɪnˌpɑt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.88 in modern English

Syllables: tin-pot
IPA: /ˈtɪnˌpɑt/

8

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Of inferior quality; shoddy.

Informal

adj

Insignificant or minor, especially in an amusing and petty manner.

Informal

noun

A tin-pot dictator.

Informal

Example Sentences

"It was a great comfort to turn from that chap to my influential friend, the battered, twisted, ruined, tin-pot steamboat."
"Jim Hacker: Why are we having an official visit from this tin-pot little African country? / Sir Humphrey Appleby: Minister, I beg of you not to refer to it as a tin-pot little African country. It's an LDC."

Etymology

From tin + pot, referring to the cheapness and poor quality of pots made from tin or tin plate.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈtɪnˌpɑt/
British English: /ˈtɪnpɒt/

Usage

Informal

Inflected Forms

tinpot (alternative) tin pot (alternative) tin-pots (plural)

Derived Forms

TPLAC

Phrases

tin-pot dictator tin-pot dictatorship tin-foil tin plate

Frequently Paired Words

tin-foil tin plate

Synonyms

ass bad base below par bottom-shelf BTEC bum cheap cheap and nasty cheapshit cheesy chintzy

Questions

How do you pronounce tin-pot?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtɪnˌpɑt/.
What does tin-pot mean?: Of inferior quality; shoddy.
Where does tin-pot come from?: From tin + pot, referring to the cheapness and poor quality of pots made from tin or tin plate.

How to pronounce tin-pot

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “tin-pot”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈtɪnˌpɑt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “tin-pot”.
Repeat and practice — Say “tin-pot” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.