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

Investigators also observed ammunition canisters in his vehicle, according to the affidavit. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026

Investigators searching the case turn up human remains, execution tapes, Polaroids and film canisters cataloging years of violence. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

This canister vacuum comes with a wall mount and an extra-long 18-foot hose. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

The crew aligned the canister at depth before bringing it back to the surface. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 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)