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, 9 June 2026

Grab the Kenmore Pet-Friendly Canister Vacuum on sale with double discounts at Amazon, or keep scrolling to see more early Prime Day deals on canister vacuums. —Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026

This portable option uses the same isobutane canisters recommended for high-efficiency backpacking stoves to keep a small camp free from pests. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 June 2026

The waste will first be sealed inside corrosion-resistant copper canisters before being lowered into disposal holes drilled directly into the bedrock. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 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)