tank top

American

noun

a close-fitting, low-cut top having shoulder straps and often made of lightweight, knitted fabric.

tank top British

noun

a sleeveless upper garment with wide shoulder straps and a low neck, usually worn over a shirt, blouse, or jumper

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

tank tops

plural

Etymology

Origin of tank top

First recorded in 1945–50

Compare meaning

How does tank-top compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It came 26 years after Madonna wore a bedazzled "Kylie Minogue" tank top at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Sweden: A gesture of solidarity that took the Aussie pop star by surprise.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026

They found him dressed in shorts and a tank top for his workday on the water, a man who had never run for office.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

PC Rogers recalled one man, who the jury heard was " 30-40, 6ft 2, large and muscular" and "wearing a tank top".

From BBC • Oct. 2, 2025

These materials are the difference between a dark winter sweater and a bright summer tank top, a luxurious cashmere scarf versus rough woolen mittens.

From Slate • Sep. 2, 2025

I remembered what Zion had said about his parents being huge geeks as I took in her Wolverine tank top and purple skirt.

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023