tanker

noun

tank·​er ˈtaŋ-kər 

1

a

: a cargo ship fitted with tanks for carrying liquid in bulk

b

: a vehicle on which a tank is mounted to carry fluids

also : a cargo airplane for transporting fuel

2

: a member of a military tank crew

Examples of tanker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The strait will need to be de-mined, empty tankers will need to start coming back into the area, production will need to restart and oil will need to start the slow journey to its destination. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 19 June 2026

This means that the tankers and cargo ships trapped in the Persian Gulf since March be able to exit, although shipping giants predict that the ships won’t actually pass through the Strait for some time. —Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Lloyd's List estimates 550 merchant ships will need to prepare to exit the Gulf, including 160 tankers, 200 bulk carriers, 60 container ships and 10 vehicle carriers. —Duarte Dias, CBS News, 18 June 2026

Other reports said a mix of crude tankers, LNG carriers and other commercial vessels were crossing the strait. —Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tanker

• oil tanker

Rhymes for tanker

• anchor
• anker
• banker
• canker
• hanker
• rancor
• shanker

Kids Definition

tanker

noun

tank·​er ˈtaŋ-kər 

: a vehicle (as a ship, truck, or aircraft) designed for the transportation of liquids