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

• boat
• keel
• ship

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 crew aboard a converted Navy vessel known as the Okeanos Explorer have since April 8 been mapping and exploring unexplored deepwater regions of Hawaii. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025

China is expanding its naval reach and presence with a fleet of over 370 vessels, the world's largest by hull count. —Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025

For the week ending May 3, the number of freight vessels leaving China and headed to the Southern California ports, the main U.S. ports receiving Chinese freight and other Asian trade, is down 29% week over week, according to Port Optimizer, a tracking system for ships. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025

But the vessel was still holding on to a few secrets. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 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