A cubbyhole is a small compartment or space used for storing things. In kindergarten and elementary school classrooms, students often have cubbyholes where they keep their backpacks, lunch boxes, and jackets. These compartments are usually built into a shelf or wall unit, with each student getting their own labeled space.

The word suggests something cozy and contained, like a little personal nook. Your desk might have cubbyholes for organizing pens, paperclips, and sticky notes. A postal worker sorts mail into cubbyholes at the post office, with each slot corresponding to a different delivery route.

Sometimes people use cubbyhole more broadly to describe any small, enclosed space. An attic cubbyhole might be a tiny storage area tucked under the eaves. A ship might have cubbyholes built into the walls for storing supplies in tight quarters.