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

To the contrary, many of the very media figures who pushed for war went on to prestigious roles in academia, think tanks, and major media outlets. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

The conservative think tank, Institute for Energy Research, said in December that blue states have high rates. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

That’s according to two AI policy researchers at the think tank GovAI. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Not listed are some other interrelated organizations Wright has affiliated with that oppose gender-affirming care, including the Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine and Genspect's Killarney Group think tank. — Lisa Hagen, NPR, 30 Sep. 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