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

And in focus groups conducted by the think tank, Jacquez said there was palpable anger aimed at CEOs and corporate leaders who voters feel have ripped them off. — Justin Papp,garrett Downs,megan Cassella, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

That has meant throwing cold water on a dossier circulated by progressive think tank Groundwork Collaborative that recommends an aggressive approach against multiple industry executives, including demanding restitution. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 5 Nov. 2026

The summit, which is organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, drew hundreds of participants. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Nearly 9 in 10 private, nonprofit four-year universities and colleges admit half or more of applicants, according to separate research by the conservative think tank the American Enterprise Institute. — Jon Marcus, NPR, 2 Nov. 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