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
And the wreckage of the tankers might just be the ladder the Warriors use to climb back into the real postseason.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
The fleet comprises aging vessels and tankers owned by nontransparent entities with addresses in non-sanctioning countries, and sailing under flags from such countries.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Several tankers fled the Venezuelan coast in the wake of the raid, including the ship that was boarded in the Indian Ocean.
—CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Several tankers fled the Venezuelan coast in the wake of the raid.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tanker
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.
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
The fleet comprises aging vessels and tankers owned by nontransparent entities with addresses in non-sanctioning countries, and sailing under flags from such countries.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Several tankers fled the Venezuelan coast in the wake of the raid, including the ship that was boarded in the Indian Ocean.
—CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Several tankers fled the Venezuelan coast in the wake of the raid.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tanker
Cite this Entry
“Tanker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tanker. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tanker
noun
tank·er
ˈtaŋ-kər 
: a vehicle (as a ship, truck, or aircraft) designed for the transportation of liquids
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
