# tanker

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtæŋkə/ · frequency rank #16,365

## Definitions
1. A tankship, a vessel used to transport large quantities of fluid.
2. A motor truck (lorry) with a tank to hold bulk liquid (with or without internal baffles): a fuel tanker (lorry), petrol tanker, road tanker.
3. An aircraft carrying a large supply of jet fuel or avgas for aerial refueling of other aircraft, plus equipment allowing the in-air transfer of fuel.
4. An aircraft built or modified to carry water and/or fire retardant for dropping on wildfires.
5. A tank car (tank wagon).
6. Member of a tank crew, or of an armoured unit.
7. An airman who serves on the crew of an aerial refueling tanker aircraft.
8. A longboard.

## Etymology
From tank + -er.

## Easily confused with
- **tanks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tanks)
- **taper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-taper)
- **taser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-taser)
- **toner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-toner)
- **tuner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tuner)
- **tater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tater)
- **tender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tender)
- **tucker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tucker)
- **tinder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tinder)
- **tanner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tanner)
- **tasked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tasked)
- **tinker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tinker)
- **tanned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tanned)
- **ticker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-ticker)
- **taster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-taster)
- **tapper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tapper)
- **tasker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tasker)
- **tenner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tenner)
- **thanked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-thanked)
- **tracker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tanker-vs-tracker)

## Common misspellings (9)
`atnker`, `takner`, `tanekr`, `tankerr`, `tankker`, `tankre`, `tannker`, `tnaker`, `ttanker`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tanker