tanker

noun

tank·​er ˈtaŋ-kər How to pronounce tanker (audio)
Synonyms of tankernext
1
a
: a cargo ship fitted with tanks for carrying liquid in bulk
b
: a vehicle on which a tank is mounted to carry fluids
also : a cargo airplane for transporting fuel
2
: a member of a military tank crew

Examples of tanker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Hundreds of passengers’ plans were derailed on Wednesday when a train crashed into a tanker truck on Colorado’s Western Slope, damaging the tracks — but not just those on board were affected. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 7 May 2026 Firms like Brookfield, GIP, BlackRock, and Stonepeak own networks of pipelines, terminals, tankers, and more — including many in the Middle East that are now under threat of being either bombed, or at least suspended from service. Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 7 May 2026 On Thursday, marine traffic data showed almost no tanker or freight traffic passing through the strait as Iran and the US contest the chokepoint. Eleni Giokos, CNN Money, 7 May 2026 An oil and chemical tanker operated by Crowley-Stena Marine Solutions safely exited the Persian Gulf on Monday, the company confirmed. Joshua Boak, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tanker

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tanker was in 1900

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tanker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tanker. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

tanker

noun
tank·​er ˈtaŋ-kər How to pronounce tanker (audio)
: a vehicle (as a ship, truck, or aircraft) designed for the transportation of liquids

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