canister

American  

[kan-uh-ster] / ˈkæn ə stər /

noun

canisters plural

1. a small box or jar, often one of a kitchen set, for holding tea, coffee, flour, and sugar.

2. Also called canister shot.  case shot.

3. the part of a gas mask containing the neutralizing substances through which poisoned air is filtered.

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canister British  

/ ˈkænɪstə /

noun

1. a container, usually made of metal, in which dry food, such as tea or coffee, is stored

2. 1. a type of shrapnel shell for firing from a cannon

   2. Also called: canister shot.   case shot.  the shot or shrapnel packed inside this

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• canisters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of canister

1670–80; < Latin canistrum wicker basket < Greek kánastron, derivative of kánna reed ( see cane), with -astron, variant of -tron suffix of instrument (probably from verbal derivatives, as stégastron covering, from stegázein to cover)

Explanation

A canister is a small container with a lid, often made of metal. You might keep a canister of sugar in your kitchen next to a canister of tea. Typically, a canister is round and has a fitted lid — while kitchen canisters are usually metal, the canisters that hold a roll of camera film are made of plastic. Another type of canister is a cylinder that's packed with shot or filled with pressurized gas and shot out of a weapon. In the 15th century, the word meant "basket," from the Latin canistrum, "wicker basket," with its Greek root kanystron, "basket made of reeds." The meaning of canister probably changed to "metal container" because of the word can.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

canister canisters

The kids, meanwhile, took selfies, while one appeared to be holding a red canister.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

"Officers swiftly attended the scene and found that a gas canister on the site had ignited and subsequently exploded," the spokesperson said.

From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2026

One indelible image of Metro Surge was of Bovino, emerging from an SUV into a wintry melee, like a general stepping onto a battlefield, and launching a canister that released green smoke at protesters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026

“Third warning. Gas, gas, gas,” Bovino says, then tossing the canister and pushing people away from the intersection.

From Salon ● Jan. 22, 2026

From time to time a movie would arrive packed in a dented canister, the film scratched and faded from its slow trip around the world.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Prosecutors say Diaz was seen leaving and returning to the warehouse with two gas canisters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

The canisters will be lowered into holes drilled in the tunnels, before the holes are filled with bentonite clay to seal them, Parviainen explained.

From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026

Some dusted off old camping stoves and refilled oil canisters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026

Several explosions from exploding oxygen canisters within the ambulances caused windows of nearby buildings, including the synagogue to crack or shatter - however no injuries were reported.

From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026

You turn around and call to Adrienne, who’s practicing her footwork while she refills the milk canisters next to the coffee lids.

From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead

Related Words

• bag
• bottle
• bowl
• box
• bucket
• can
• capsule
• carton
• crate
• dish
• jar
• jug
• kettle
• package
• packet
• pail
• pot
• pouch
• sack
• storage