tanker

noun

tank·​er ˈtaŋ-kər How to pronounce tanker (audio)
Synonyms of tankernext
1
a
: a cargo ship fitted with tanks for carrying liquid in bulk
b
: a vehicle on which a tank is mounted to carry fluids
also : a cargo airplane for transporting fuel
2
: a member of a military tank crew

Examples of tanker 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.
Spot charter rates for tankers have soared into the hundreds of thousands of dollars a day, while the ship-to-ship transfers can take several days. — Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026 The decades-long contract with Cheniere indicates that Qatar sees a risk that freedom of navigation will never return to Hormuz as Iran keeps attacking tankers, Munton said. — Spencer Kimball,deena Zaidi, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 When hundreds of millions of gallons were intentionally released into the Persian Gulf during the Iraq war, Kuwait had to rely on Saudi Arabia, Turkey and others to provide hundreds of water tankers and trucks to deliver bottled water. — Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 America can point to tankers still transiting Hormuz, but shipping that depends on costly military protection and remains under threat is a poor substitute for normal trade. — Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tanker

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tanker was in 1900

Phrases Containing tanker

Rhymes for tanker

See All Rhymes for tanker

Browse Nearby Words

tank engine
tanker
tankerabogus
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tanker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tanker. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tanker

noun
tank·​er ˈtaŋ-kər How to pronounce tanker (audio)
: a vehicle (as a ship, truck, or aircraft) designed for the transportation of liquids

More from Merriam-Webster on tanker

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tanker

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