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
Minutes after the jury selection process concluded, Azzarello doused himself in liquid from a canister held above his head and lit a flame.
—
Ella Lee, The Hill, 28 May 2025
Then there was the small skeleton in a canister, with bones tinier than toothpicks.
—Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 13 May 2025
One child did die at al-Fara during the relevant time frame, but he was hurt by an explosive gas canister, not a bullet, and his fatal injury occurred in a remote field, not in the heart of the crowded camp, as Mahdawi had repeatedly said.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Researchers have also expressed concerns about potential corrosion of storage containers, specifically the copper canisters.
—Marta Abbà, Wired News, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canister
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Ella Lee, The Hill, 28 May 2025
Then there was the small skeleton in a canister, with bones tinier than toothpicks.
—Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 13 May 2025
One child did die at al-Fara during the relevant time frame, but he was hurt by an explosive gas canister, not a bullet, and his fatal injury occurred in a remote field, not in the heart of the crowded camp, as Mahdawi had repeatedly said.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Researchers have also expressed concerns about potential corrosion of storage containers, specifically the copper canisters.
—Marta Abbà, Wired News, 23 Apr. 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 10 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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