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
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
On June 9, LAPD said protesters threw objects at officers near the federal courthouse, prompting use of gas canisters and other munitions.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 11 June 2025
Bear spray also includes a propellant, typically a compressed gas, to push the mixture out of the canister.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025
An acrid odor lingered in the air the day after law enforcement fired gas canisters and flash bang grenades at protesters on Alondra Boulevard.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
Whyte’s attacker grabbed a gasoline canister from a nearby food cart and emptied it on the victim before starting the blaze, cops said.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for canister
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Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 11 June 2025
Bear spray also includes a propellant, typically a compressed gas, to push the mixture out of the canister.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025
An acrid odor lingered in the air the day after law enforcement fired gas canisters and flash bang grenades at protesters on Alondra Boulevard.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
Whyte’s attacker grabbed a gasoline canister from a nearby food cart and emptied it on the victim before starting the blaze, cops said.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for canister
Cite this Entry
“Canister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canister. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
canister
noun
can·is·ter
variants
also cannister
: a small box or can for holding a dry product (as coffee, flour, or sugar)
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