canister

noun

can·​is·​ter ˈka-nə-stər 

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

Synonyms of canister

• barrel
• tin
• drum
• bucket

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

Meanwhile, smoke hung in the air near the scene late into the evening as officers deployed multiple tear gas canisters on demonstrators, with one striking CNN correspondent Whitney Wild. —Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 15 Jan. 2026

However, the man grabbed a nearby canister of bear spray and discharged it at officers, including the deputy who was sprayed directly in the eyes. —Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026

In a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Senate Democrats blasted other accounts of ICE throwing a canister of tear gas 700 feet away from an elementary school during recess and two women getting dragged out of their car by ICE in front of a Chicago school building. —Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026

Measure canisters and containers to make sure everything will still fit—there’s nothing worse than buying something that makes your kitchen organization woes worse! —Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for canister

• banister

Kids Definition

canister

noun

can·​is·​ter

variants also cannister

ˈkan-ə-stər 

: a small box or can for holding a dry product (as coffee, flour, or sugar)