container ship

noun

kən-ˈtā-nər-ˌship How to pronounce container ship (audio)
variants or less commonly containership
Synonyms of container shipnext
: a ship specially designed or equipped for carrying containerized cargo

Examples of container ship 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.
When inventory is floating on a container ship for four or five months, a brand’s capital is completely locked up at sea. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 30 June 2026 But on Thursday, Iranian forces attacked a container ship with drones, hours after warning ships to no longer take that route. — Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 In January, a 30-foot fin whale was found dead on the front of a container ship docked at a New Jersey marine terminal. — Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026 The British military said on Thursday that a container ship was hit a projectile off the coast of Oman, coming hours after Iran threatened vessels to stop using the route. — Collin Binkley, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for container ship

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of container ship was in 1966

Rhymes for container ship

See All Rhymes for container ship

Browse Nearby Words

container port
container ship
containment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Container ship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/container%20ship. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

containership

noun
con·​tain·​er·​ship kən-ˈtā-nər-ˌship How to pronounce containership (audio)
: a ship designed or equipped to carry very large containers of cargo
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