canister

noun

can·​is·​ter ˈka-nə-stər 

variants or less commonly cannister

1

: an often cylindrical container for holding a usually specified object or substance

a film canister

2

: encased shot for close-range artillery fire

3

: a perforated metal box for gas masks with material to adsorb, filter, or detoxify airborne poisons and irritants

Synonyms

• barrel
• can
• drum
• tin

Examples of canister in a Sentence

she put the store-bought cookies in a fancy canister to make them look homemade

Recent Examples on the Web

Edwin Lyman, the director of nuclear power safety with the Union of Concerned scientists in Washington, D.C., worries the fuel canisters could leak radiation if they're involved in severe crashes during transport, or targeted by terrorists. —Scott Franz, NPR, 13 Feb. 2025

Each canister is supposed to make two liters of water, and the math works out to about $1 per liter of sparkling water, which is more than the 50 cents or so per liter of a regular soda maker’s tank. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 11 Feb. 2025

The kitchen block includes an integrated sink, water pump, 13-L fresh and waste water canisters, portable single-burner cartridge stove and worktop. —New Atlas, 8 Feb. 2025

Edison officials say more than 80% of the canisters could be taken off-site now if a permanent or interim storage facility existed and 100% of canisters will be ready to be shipped by 2030. —Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin canistrum basket, from Greek kanastron wicker basket, from kanna reed — more at cane

First Known Use

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

canister

noun

can·​is·​ter

variants also cannister

ˈkan-ə-stər 

: a small box or can for holding a dry product (as coffee, flour, or sugar)