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
H. J. Laski2
: 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
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
For many Americans, the vessels evoke memories of the Bicentennial in 1976, when the tall ships became enduring symbols of a national milestone.
—
Jamie Stockwell,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
The 230-meter-long (754-foot-long) vessel is now operating with a rigid wing sail system called the Wing560, which measures 46 meters (150 feet) in height and 14 meters (45 feet) in width.
—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 July 2026
Roughly 20 nations have dispatched their premier tall ships to participate in the celebration, with vessels arriving from as far away as Italy, India, Peru, Poland, Spain and Sweden.
—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
Commercial vessels remain anchored off Port Sultan Qaboos around Qaboos Port on June 21, 2026 in Muscat, Oman.
—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for vessel
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show current usage.
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Jamie Stockwell,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
The 230-meter-long (754-foot-long) vessel is now operating with a rigid wing sail system called the Wing560, which measures 46 meters (150 feet) in height and 14 meters (45 feet) in width.
—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 July 2026
Roughly 20 nations have dispatched their premier tall ships to participate in the celebration, with vessels arriving from as far away as Italy, India, Peru, Poland, Spain and Sweden.
—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
Commercial vessels remain anchored off Port Sultan Qaboos around Qaboos Port on June 21, 2026 in Muscat, Oman.
—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for vessel
Cite this Entry
“Vessel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vessel. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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