tanner

1 of 2

noun (1)

tan·​ner ˈta-nər How to pronounce tanner (audio)
plural tanners
1
: one that tans hides
2
: one who acquires or seeks to acquire a suntan
Scott Beach is for dedicated tanners, day-long sun and lots of space.—Charlotte Curtis
3
: a cosmetic product that when applied to the skin reacts chemically with its surface layer to give the appearance of a suntan : self tanner
Most tanners go on colorless; you may have to wait an hour or more for the tan to appear.—Consumer Reports

tanner

2 of 2

noun (2)

British
: sixpence

Examples of tanner 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.
Noun
The skin of the sheep was then sold to tanners for a handsome price. — Literary Hub, 22 Apr. 2026 The money from her work as a spray tanner goes towards travel and a down payment on a house. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026 To their credit, some of the TikTok tanners are using sunscreen. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 21 May 2026 To get an even application, apply the tanner in a circular motion to the entire body. — Deanna Pai, Glamour, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tanner

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tanner was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing tanner

Rhymes for tanner

See All Rhymes for tanner

Browse Nearby Words

Tannenbaum
tanner
tanner's bark
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tanner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tanner. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tanner

noun
tan·​ner
ˈtan-ər
: a person who tans hides

More from Merriam-Webster on tanner

Nglish: Translation of tanner for Spanish Speakers

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