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

Local authorities reported that the tanker was experiencing a fire in its engine room, with the incident unfolding around 21 nautical miles northeast of the city of Sohar. —Sarah Dean, NBC news, 12 June 2026

The conflict resulted in a sharp drop in tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, where about a quarter of the world's petroleum supply normally passes. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 11 June 2026

New Delhi lodged a diplomatic protest with Washington after three Indian sailors were killed in a US military strike on a tanker in the Gulf of Oman. —J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 11 June 2026

Hand crews and air tankers have carried much of the firefighting effort, officials said. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 11 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