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
Officers can be seen shooting rounds of tear gas at the crowd, with some smoking canisters picked up and thrown back.
—
Angus Watson, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Colin Hortman said law enforcement fired multiple tear gas canisters into the home of his parents, Melissa and Mark Hortman, after they were fatally shot on June 14 because officers believed the perpetrator might still be inside.
—Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026
The plane is in pieces, the main two chunks being the cockpit and the fuselage, both of which have been reduced to floating canisters with wires popping out of the sides.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
Vacuums come in a wide range of styles, from traditional upright and canister models to newer designs, such as zippy cordless stick vacuums and robot vacs that do the work for you.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canister
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Angus Watson, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Colin Hortman said law enforcement fired multiple tear gas canisters into the home of his parents, Melissa and Mark Hortman, after they were fatally shot on June 14 because officers believed the perpetrator might still be inside.
—Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026
The plane is in pieces, the main two chunks being the cockpit and the fuselage, both of which have been reduced to floating canisters with wires popping out of the sides.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
Vacuums come in a wide range of styles, from traditional upright and canister models to newer designs, such as zippy cordless stick vacuums and robot vacs that do the work for you.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canister
Cite this Entry
“Canister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canister. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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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