container

noun

con·​tain·​er kən-ˈtā-nər 

: one that contains: such as

a

: a receptacle (such as a box or jar) for holding goods

b

: a portable compartment in which freight is placed (as on a train or ship) for convenience of movement

containerless

kən-ˈtā-nər-ləs 

adjective

Synonyms of container

• bin
• holder
• bag
• receptacle
• vessel
• box
• bottle

Examples of container in a Sentence

The tea leaves come in a small metal container.

bowls, boxes, jars, and other containers

The shipment of tools arrived at the dock in cargo containers yesterday.

Recent Examples on the Web

Walsh cleaned the bones with a brush, lifted them with a spatula or a stick, and then placed them in specimen containers. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

Cool the weights completely before transferring to a storage container for future use. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025

Einride filed a lawsuit against Maersk in November 2024 in Los Angeles County Superior Court surrounding the container shipping giant’s termination of the deal. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Nov. 2025

These containers are dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe (lids excluded), and freezer-safe. —Gabriela Garcia, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conteyner, from conteynen "to contain" + -er -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing container

• container port
• container ship

Rhymes for container

• abstainer
• campaigner
• complainer
• coplanar
• detainer
• maintainer
• nonplanar
• retainer
• sustainer
• entertainer
• gainer
• plainer

Kids Definition

container

noun

con·​tain·​er kən-ˈtā-nər 

: one that contains

especially : something into which other things can be put (as for storage)