supertanker

noun

su·​per·​tank·​er ˈsü-pər-ˌtaŋ-kər How to pronounce supertanker (audio)
plural supertankers
Synonyms of supertankernext
: an exceptionally large and fast cargo ship fitted with tanks for carrying liquid (such as oil) in bulk
… vessels of more than 35,000 tons—large but no giants in a world of supertankers …—William H. MacLeish
… interrupts the … discussion with a warning that supertankers carrying liquefied gas are extremely dangerous.—John Hersey

Examples of supertanker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to a Monday report from Bloomberg, Sinokor Group, the world’s largest owner of supertankers, offered six months of extra salary to seafarers that were willing to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 24 July 2026 The supertanker would then face a much longer journey around Africa to destinations in Asia, and would have to return on the same route through the Suez due to Houthi threats at the Bab el-Mandeb, Smith said. — Spencer Kimball,deena Zaidi, CNBC, 24 July 2026 Now, Sinokor has emerged as a major owner of supertankers moving crude out of the Persian Gulf. — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026 Of the ships entering since Monday, at least nine were supertankers, which had mostly avoided entering over the weekend. — Alex Sundby, CBS News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for supertanker

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of supertanker was in 1921

Rhymes for supertanker

See All Rhymes for supertanker

Browse Nearby Words

supersystem
supertanker
supertax
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Supertanker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supertanker. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

supertanker

noun
su·​per·​tank·​er
ˈsü-pər-ˌtaŋ-kər
: a very large cargo ship fitted with tanks for carrying large amounts of liquid

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