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

Some demonstrators panicked as tear-gas canisters landed in their midst, scattering with screams. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

The site is designed to hold up to 6,500 tonnes (7,200 tons) of uranium waste, which equals roughly 3,300 canisters. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Amen’s attorneys maintained in the May filing that the clinic followed all standards of care and that the artist’s death was caused not by Xanax, but by his inhalation of difluoroethane from canisters. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026

Climbing fences, shooting, being on the back of a moving truck while there’s all these fire and gas canisters going off — but just running really, really did me in. — Alison Herman, Variety, 21 Oct. 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)