canister

noun

can·​is·​ter ˈka-nə-stər How to pronounce canister (audio)
variants or less commonly cannister
1
: an often cylindrical container for holding a usually specified object or substance
a film canister
2
: encased shot for close-range artillery fire
3
: a perforated metal box for gas masks with material to adsorb, filter, or detoxify airborne poisons and irritants

Examples of canister in a Sentence

she put the store-bought cookies in a fancy canister to make them look homemade
Recent Examples on the Web Both had to shield themselves from tear gas canisters and rubber bullets after suffering those injuries. Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Crews believe the canisters that went flying from the building Monday night contained nitrous oxide and butane. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 In addition to the car cruise, In-N-Out is raising funds for Slave 2 Nothing at its restaurant counters, where there are canisters for collections and QR codes posted on how to customers can donate with their orders. Fielding Buck, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Security forces have used concrete and metal barricades, as well as drones carrying tear gas canisters, to stop them from advancing. Reuters, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2024 Previous research indicated that the bone canister found in the Netherlands may have doubled as a pipe, per the statement. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 Outside Julia’s apartment, the detritus of protests littered the street—tipped-over trash cans, twisted metal barricades, expended tear-gas canisters. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 8 Feb. 2024 Fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 Del Olmo never entered the public consciousness like his predecessor, Ruben Salazar, the Times columnist killed in 1970 by a tear gas canister fired by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy during the Chicano Moratorium in East Los Angeles. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'canister.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin canistrum basket, from Greek kanastron wicker basket, from kanna reed — more at cane

First Known Use

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of canister was in 1692

Dictionary Entries Near canister

Cite this Entry

“Canister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canister. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

canister

noun
can·​is·​ter
variants also cannister
: a small box or can for holding a dry product (as coffee, flour, or sugar)

More from Merriam-Webster on canister

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