tanker

noun

tank·​er ˈtaŋ-kər How to pronounce tanker (audio)
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
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.
The missions were carried out by 83 separate aircraft, including intelligence-gathering planes and tankers used to refuel jets in midair. Natasha Bertrand, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025 But after the start of the war in Ukraine, the tankers started getting weird. NPR, 17 Oct. 2025 However, a direct trip to Mars would require vast amounts of fuel, so SpaceX plans to use in-orbit refueling, where multiple tanker Starships transfer propellant to a main vehicle before departure. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025 The oil depot is used for the transport of oil and oil products between rail tankers, sea vessels, and road transport and is the largest oil storage facility in Crimea, holding up to 250,000 tons of fuel, which supplies Russian forces. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tanker

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tanker was in 1900

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tanker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tanker. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

tanker

noun
tank·​er ˈtaŋ-kər How to pronounce tanker (audio)
: a vehicle (as a ship, truck, or aircraft) designed for the transportation of liquids

More from Merriam-Webster on tanker

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