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

Electrons vibrating in some container. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026

Choose Planters With Drainage—and Size Up When choosing containers for your city garden, experts emphasize one key design feature as the most important. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Apr. 2026

Dry them on paper towels and then go ahead and put them in your plastic storage container or mason jar. —Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026

Another uses a play food container from a child’s pretend kitchen. —Rebecca Flint Marx, SELF, 20 Apr. 2026

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)