container

noun

con·​tain·​er kən-ˈtā-nər How to pronounce container (audio)
: one that contains: such as
a
: a receptacle (such as a box or jar) for holding goods
b
: a portable compartment in which freight is placed (as on a train or ship) for convenience of movement
containerless adjective

Examples of container in a Sentence

The tea leaves come in a small metal container. bowls, boxes, jars, and other containers The shipment of tools arrived at the dock in cargo containers yesterday.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From cooking pots and water containers crafted in clay by Indigenous artists a thousand years ago through today, to contemporary decorative items and intricate jewelry crafted in textiles, metal, and wood, Santa Fe welcomes, strengthens, and grows arts and artists in its community. Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 Best Swiveling Style Think outside the box with Konstantin Grcic for Magis’ 360-degree container. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2025 Make sure to store overnight oats tightly sealed in jars or airtight containers to maintain freshness throughout the week. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 29 June 2025 Ring Sheared Drop — Continuing a multi-week fluids physics experiment, Nichole Ayers worked with an apparatus mounted inside a microgravity glove box in the U.S. Destiny Laboratory to see if surface tension can be used to isolate liquids from their containers' walls. Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for container

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conteyner, from conteynen "to contain" + -er -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of container was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Container.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/container. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

container

noun
con·​tain·​er kən-ˈtā-nər How to pronounce container (audio)
: one that contains
especially : something into which other things can be put (as for storage)

More from Merriam-Webster on container

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