think tank

noun

: an institute, corporation, or group organized to study a particular subject (such as a policy issue or a scientific problem) and provide information, ideas, and advice

an information technology think tank

… was responsible for the armies of new political-action committees, lobbyists and rightward think tanks that poured into Washington to counter the consumer and environmental movements he helped to inspire.

—Jonathan Rowe

Examples of think tank in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In March, Chinese exports of solar panels were up more than 80% compared to last year, according to energy think tank Ember. — Julia Simon, NPR, 9 July 2026

The effort is directed by Chad Maisel, a former adviser to President Joseph Biden and Senator Cory Booker, who’s now a senior fellow at left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress. — Simone Foxman, Fortune, 8 July 2026

The grants, which have not been previously reported, will go to researchers at universities and think tanks to look at the effect of gambling on financial well-being, household formation, mental health and consumer behavior. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 7 July 2026

The new report from clean energy think tank Energy Innovation suggests higher energy bills will continue for the next decade, tied directly to Trump’s policies. — Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for think tank

• gangplank
• nonbank
• outflank
• sandbank
• antitank
• interbank
• riverbank
• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank

Kids Definition

think tank

noun

: an organization formed to think up new solutions especially for social and scientific problems