vessel

noun

ves·​sel ˈve-səl 

1

a

: a container (such as a cask, bottle, kettle, cup, or bowl) for holding something

b

: a person into whom some quality (such as grace) is infused

… a child of light, a true vessel of the Lord …

—H. J. Laski

2

: a watercraft bigger than a rowboat

especially : ship sense 1

3

a

: a tube or canal (such as an artery) in which a body fluid is contained and conveyed or circulated

b

: a conducting tube in the xylem of a vascular plant formed by the fusion and loss of end walls of a series of cells

Synonyms of vessel

• ship
• boat

Examples of vessel in a Sentence

a new ocean liner that claims to be the largest commercial vessel afloat

any vessel that is buoyant and steerable can be entered in the annual race down the river

Recent Examples on the Web

The strikes have drawn pushback from congressional Democrats and a handful of Republicans who argue the operations haven't been authorized by Congress and the administration hasn't provided sufficient evidence that the vessels were carrying drugs. —CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025

And 16 Emmys later, the documentary-style series has chronicled the harrowing adventures of various vessels and their intrepid crews across the October king crab and January snow crab seasons — battling boat collisions, power outages, 40-foot waves, and beyond. —Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025

As the drills unfolded, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels were operating near the island, with some engaging in close stand-offs near Taiwan’s contiguous zone, about 24 nautical miles from shore. —Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025

Chinese coast guard ships were tracking Taiwanese vessels during the drills, a Taiwan coast guard official told Reuters. —Yimou Lee, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin vascellum, diminutive of Latin vas vase, vessel

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing vessel

• blood vessel

Rhymes for vessel

• cresol
• decile
• nestle
• pestle
• sessile
• trestle
• wessel
• wrestle
• subsessile

Kids Definition

vessel

noun

ves·​sel ˈves-əl 

1

: a hollow utensil (as a cup or bowl) for holding something

2

: a craft bigger than a rowboat for navigation of the water

especially : ship entry 1 sense 1

3

a

: a tube or canal (as a vein or artery) in which a body fluid is contained and carried or circulated

b

: a tube in the xylem of a vascular plant through which water passes

Medical Definition

vessel

noun

ves·​sel ˈves-əl 

: a tube or canal (as an artery, vein, or lymphatic) in which a body fluid (as blood or lymph) is contained and conveyed or circulated