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

Still, several Qatari LNG tankers are heading toward the Gulf, which suggests there are expectations that shipments could resume soon, Bloomberg reported. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warns crews near Kuwait and Bahrain to abandon tankers as both sides maneuver to control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments. — Konstantin Toropin, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

The tanker had reportedly traveled from the Saudi port of Yanbu to the Suez Canal, some 1,000 kilometers (700 miles) from Houthi territory. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Two people on the tanker were killed in the attack, the agency said on Monday. — September 7, CBS News, 7 Sep. 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