container

noun

con·​tain·​er kən-ˈtā-nər 

: one that contains: such as

a

: a receptacle (such as a box or jar) for holding goods

b

: a portable compartment in which freight is placed (as on a train or ship) for convenience of movement

containerless

kən-ˈtā-nər-ləs 

adjective

Synonyms

• holder
• receptacle
• vessel

Examples of container in a Sentence

The tea leaves come in a small metal container.

bowls, boxes, jars, and other containers

The shipment of tools arrived at the dock in cargo containers yesterday.

Recent Examples on the Web

The bottled water industry generates more than 600 billion plastic bottles and containers a year, according to a 2023 report. —Simon Mainwaring, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Tip For Freezing Cooked Butternut Squash Make sure the butternut squash had a chance to cool down completely before storing it in a heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container. —Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2024

Martha Stewart, like the cleaning influencers of today, wanted to store her laundry detergent in an aesthetically pleasing container. —Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024

Store the mixture in an airtight container or single-serving snack bags for a quick and easy late-night snack. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conteyner, from conteynen "to contain" + -er -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing container

• container port
• container ship

Kids Definition

container

noun

con·​tain·​er kən-ˈtā-nər 

: one that contains

especially : something into which other things can be put (as for storage)