tanner

1 of 2

noun (1)

tan·​ner ˈta-nər How to pronounce tanner (audio)
plural tanners
1
: one that tans hides
2
: one who acquires or seeks to acquire a suntan
Scott Beach is for dedicated tanners, day-long sun and lots of space.Charlotte Curtis
3
: a cosmetic product that when applied to the skin reacts chemically with its surface layer to give the appearance of a suntan : self tanner
Most tanners go on colorless; you may have to wait an hour or more for the tan to appear.Consumer Reports

tanner

2 of 2

noun (2)

British

Examples of tanner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
According to The New Zealand Herald, George held several roles over the years, including carpenter, tanner and insurance salesman, though struggled to hold down a job. Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025 Truth is, McKee would rather not be tanner. Zach Berman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025 French was a tanner and merchant who made a successful business after moving to Beaumont from his birthright state of New York in 1836. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 This Westman Atelier face tanner, however, gave me a quick glow with just a few drops of product. Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for tanner

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tanner was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tanner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tanner. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

tanner

noun
tan·​ner
ˈtan-ər
: a person who tans hides

More from Merriam-Webster on tanner

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