tanner

1 of 2

noun (1)

tan·​ner ˈta-nər How to pronounce tanner (audio)
plural tanners
1
: one that tans hides
2
: one who acquires or seeks to acquire a suntan
Scott Beach is for dedicated tanners, day-long sun and lots of space.Charlotte Curtis
3
: a cosmetic product that when applied to the skin reacts chemically with its surface layer to give the appearance of a suntan : self tanner
Most tanners go on colorless; you may have to wait an hour or more for the tan to appear.Consumer Reports

tanner

2 of 2

noun (2)

British

Examples of tanner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This process— still used by specialized tanners today — involves extracting tannin from the bark of oak trees, which is then infused into hides during an extended soaking process in vats at a tannery. Samuel M. Riley, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2024 Those who value convenience and mess-free self tanner may enjoy spray and towelettes, although spray tanners aren’t the best for beginners. Addie Morton, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 Frey also said using tanners on the face can lead to unknown allergic reactions for some people, depending on the ingredients in the products. Brittany Kasko, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024 His father, George, owned 25,000 acres of land and operated large plantations in Virginia, relying on enslaved people to work as carpenters, coopers, sawyers, blacksmiths, tanners, shoemakers, spinners, weavers, knitters, distillers, cooks, laundry maids and field laborers. Sue Eisenfeld, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024 Tejada recommends finding a tanner that matches your undertones, and fortunately, these oils react to the pH of your skin to customize a tan that’s just right for your coloring. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2024 Eight Maryland tanners participated, all from Baltimore except for A.K. Shriver & Sons. Samuel M. Riley, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2024 Using fake tanner or body bronzing cream would impair the ability to conceal their tattoos effectively, or, alternatively, add an extra hour in the morning for touching up the tan. Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 22 Dec. 2023 Oh, and that applying spray tanner to her ass wasn’t that bad of an experience. Vulture, 20 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tanner.' 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

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tanner was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near tanner

Cite this Entry

“Tanner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tanner. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tanner

noun
tan·​ner
ˈtan-ər
: a person who tans hides

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