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

Cluttered Counters Make meal prep and clean up a breeze by keeping your counters streamlined, not filled to the max with appliances and canisters and the like. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 22 Jan. 2026

Factors like its age, physical structure, burnup characteristics and the fact that it is already sealed in canisters designed for storage and transport — not chemical separation — all matter. —Mike Levin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026

The terror was visceral for Hawkins, the emergency room nurse who became the patient after being struck in the face with a tear gas canister in Portland last June. —Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026

Sonobuoys are expendable instrument packages that look like long metal canisters. —New Atlas, 18 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)