tanker
n. countablen. a very large ship, truck, or plane used for carrying huge amounts of liquid, like oil or gas.
n. a ship, road vehicle, or aircraft designed to transport large quantities of liquid or gas in bulk.
The oil tanker is waiting at the port.
Emergency crews worked quickly to contain the spill after the fuel tanker overturned on the highway.
Strategic military operations often rely on aerial tankers to provide mid-air refueling, significantly extending the operational range of fighter jets during long-distance missions.
From tank + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Usage
Commonly modified by the type of liquid being transported, such as 'oil tanker', 'fuel tanker', or 'water tanker'.
Last updated May 6, 2026