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

This type of secret cruise is typically in the realm of small-ship cruise lines like Windstar that can get into smaller ports that larger vessels cannot. —Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025

The vessel, which was flying a giant Mexican flag and had 277 people aboard, then drifted toward the piers lining the riverbank as onlookers scrambled away. —Ruth Brown, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025

Carnival Radiance came to the aid of 25 people stranded in a small boat off Mexico’s coast in May 2024, shortly after Carnival Paradise saved 28 Cuban nationals from a vessel that was adrift in April of that year. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 17 May 2025

Hence Van Assche insisted on a rectangular base for all his vessels, which not only adds stability but telegraphs a more modern and minimalist sensibility. —Miles Socha, Footwear News, 17 May 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