canister

noun

can·​is·​ter ˈka-nə-stər How to pronounce canister (audio)
variants or less commonly cannister
1
: an often cylindrical container for holding a usually specified object or substance
a film canister
2
: encased shot for close-range artillery fire
3
: a perforated metal box for gas masks with material to adsorb, filter, or detoxify airborne poisons and irritants

Examples of canister in a Sentence

she put the store-bought cookies in a fancy canister to make them look homemade
Recent Examples on the Web Jean Marc Jean, 37, a freelance journalist, was covering antigovernment protests last month when a police tear-gas canister hit his left eye. Frances Robles, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 The canisters, sometimes called whippets or whip-its, have everyday uses, like in cooking. Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024 Inside the facility were 100,000 vape pens, each with a lithium battery, plus a currently unknown number of canisters filled with nitrous oxide and butane, officials said. Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024 During the video, the woman opened the container to reveal the interior of the canister: a solid mass that resembled concrete. David Klepper, Fortune Well, 31 Jan. 2024 Both had to shield themselves from tear gas canisters and rubber bullets after suffering those injuries. Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Crews believe the canisters that went flying from the building Monday night contained nitrous oxide and butane. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 In addition to the car cruise, In-N-Out is raising funds for Slave 2 Nothing at its restaurant counters, where there are canisters for collections and QR codes posted on how to customers can donate with their orders. Fielding Buck, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Security forces have used concrete and metal barricades, as well as drones carrying tear gas canisters, to stop them from advancing. Reuters, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'canister.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin canistrum basket, from Greek kanastron wicker basket, from kanna reed — more at cane

First Known Use

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of canister was in 1692

Dictionary Entries Near canister

Cite this Entry

“Canister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canister. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

canister

noun
can·​is·​ter
variants also cannister
: a small box or can for holding a dry product (as coffee, flour, or sugar)

More from Merriam-Webster on canister

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