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

• barrel
• can
• drum
• tin

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

The canister also houses the vacuum’s washable fabric filter, which securely traps germs and allergens. —Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 17 July 2024

The Bose SoundLink Flex is a high-performing canister that's been rigorously tested to meet IP67 waterproof speaker standards. —K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 15 July 2024

After you are done, either throw away the bag or clean the canister outside. —Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2024

The softness also made cutting the floss out of the canister a little bit hard. —Cara Milhaven Published, Health, 10 July 2024

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

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)