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

The tanker gridlock is keeping global oil and gas prices high, and keeping pressure on all parties to the conflict to find a solution. —April 16, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

The tanker Rich Starry had been waiting off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, according to shipping data firm Lloyd's List, which cited data from the energy cargo-tracking firm Vortexa. —Arkansas Online, 15 Apr. 2026

When any petroleum tanker crashes and becomes a fireball, the industry takes a hit to its image. —Dean Narciso, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

Earlier this year, as Washington put pressure on the regime of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, US forces seized a Venezuelan tanker in the Indian Ocean, thousands of miles from its originating port. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026

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