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

Sometimes the researchers would add, remove or alter evidence, then give the chimps a chance to change their minds and choose the other canister. —F.d. Flam, Twin Cities, 22 Nov. 2025

Five of the canisters have their covers blown off as missiles were fired, indicating the number of missiles launched during the exercise. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Compressed Air Compressed air canisters are frequently used to clean dust and debris from electronics and components. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2025

Residents should contact their local waste management to obtain a wildlife-resistant trash canister. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025

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)