think tank

noun

: an institute, corporation, or group organized to study a particular subject (such as a policy issue or a scientific problem) and provide information, ideas, and advice

an information technology think tank

… was responsible for the armies of new political-action committees, lobbyists and rightward think tanks that poured into Washington to counter the consumer and environmental movements he helped to inspire.

—Jonathan Rowe

Examples of think tank in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, has released reports on declining inventories based on budget documents and other public information. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Policy analysts at conservative think tanks have long considered child care the responsibility of the states, saying that overarching federal regulations do not create enough flexibility. — Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

The cost of school supplies has increased significantly across the nation, according to two think tanks. — Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026

But the person hired, Kenneth Weinstein, had a background that included leading the conservative think tank the Hudson Institute. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for think tank

• gangplank
• nonbank
• outflank
• sandbank
• antitank
• interbank
• riverbank
• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank

Kids Definition

think tank

noun

: an organization formed to think up new solutions especially for social and scientific problems