think tank

American  

noun

1. a research institute or organization employed to solve complex problems or predict or plan future developments, as in military, political, or social areas.

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think-tank British  

noun

1. informal a group of specialists organized by a business enterprise, governmental body, etc, and commissioned to undertake intensive study and research into specified problems

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think tank Cultural  

1. An institution in which scholars pursue research in public policy. Largely funded by endowments and grants, think tanks work to improve public awareness of policy issues (through publications) and to influence the government to act upon issues of national importance. (See power elite.)

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think tank Idioms  

1. A group or organization dedicated to problem-solving and research, especially in such areas as technology, social or political strategy, and the military. For example, The congressional leaders rely too heavily on that conservative think tank. This term originated about 1900 as a facetious colloquialism for brain and was given its new meaning about 1950.

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Etymology

Origin of think tank

1900–05 for earlier sense “brain”; 1955–60 for current sense

Example Sentences

More than a third of US gas capacity directly powers data centers in the United States, according to a recent study by Global Energy Monitor, a think tank.

From Barron's

"I would say it's been a cultural revolution," says Sophia Besch, a senior researcher at the Carnegie Institute for Peace, a think tank in Washington DC.

From BBC

Ben Gregg, head of welfare at the Centre for Social Justice think tank, said the figures showed the "absurdity of the 'relative low-income' measure".

From BBC

Christopher Sabatini, senior fellow at Chatham House, a London think tank, says such projects may bring some jobs and a short-term injection of cash to local communities.

From BBC

"These agreements are part of our arsenal," Sapir, of the Bruegel think tank, added.

From Barron's