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

• tin
• barrel
• 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

Then empty the vacuum canister into the trash and dispose of it. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 July 2025

According to the criminal complaint, investigators spotted Grigsby on video footage holding a black canister and walking up the Northwest Stairwell toward a line of police officers defending the area. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

Artillery Shells: Individual shells loaded into a canister that shoot out colorful stars and sparks when ignited. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2025

The facility likely contained canisters of uranium hexafluoride gas that was released into the environment as a large gas cloud once it was hit, Caffrey said. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 21 June 2025

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

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)