tanker

noun

tank·​er ˈtaŋ-kər 

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

Floating storage—tankers containing Iranian oil that have no current destination—surged from 5 million barrels to 30 million over the first half of 2025. —Ian Bremmer, Time, 14 Sep. 2025

Other defensive elements included an Italian AWACS surveillance aircraft, a NATO refueling tanker, and a German Patriot air defense system, the New York Times reported. —George Petras, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

Other agencies would also be involved in trying to determine whether the company that owned the tanker had complied with regulations. —Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025

Four people have died and 90 others have been injured following a gas tanker explosion in Mexico City. —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tanker

• oil tanker

Rhymes for tanker

• anchor
• anker
• banker
• canker
• hanker
• rancor
• shanker

Kids Definition

tanker

noun

tank·​er ˈtaŋ-kər 

: a vehicle (as a ship, truck, or aircraft) designed for the transportation of liquids