supertanker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialised / Technical
Quick answer
What does “supertanker” mean?
An extremely large ship designed to transport massive quantities of crude oil or petroleum products.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An extremely large ship designed to transport massive quantities of crude oil or petroleum products.
A term used metaphorically to describe any system, organization, or object that is exceptionally large, powerful, or slow to change course.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. UK usage may be more frequent in maritime/insurance contexts (Lloyd's).
Connotations
Generally neutral/technical. Metaphorical use carries connotations of being difficult to steer or stop.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but standard in maritime, environmental, and energy-related contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “supertanker” in a Sentence
The supertanker [verb: sailed/collided/transported]A supertanker of [noun: oil/goods]The [adj: giant/massive] supertankerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “supertanker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company plans to supertanker the crude oil from the Gulf.
American English
- They needed to supertanker the fuel across the Pacific.
adjective
British English
- The supertanker traffic in the Channel has increased.
American English
- They faced a supertanker-sized logistical problem.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in shipping, logistics, and energy sector reports regarding freight rates and oil supply chains.
Academic
Used in environmental science, maritime law, and engineering papers analysing spill risks or vessel design.
Everyday
Most likely encountered in news reports about oil spills, maritime accidents, or global trade.
Technical
Standard term in maritime classification, naval architecture, and port authority documentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “supertanker”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “supertanker”
- Misspelling as 'super tanker' (open compound). It's a closed compound: 'supertanker'.
- Confusing with 'aircraft carrier' or 'container ship'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Supertankers are among the largest moving man-made objects. A VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) can be over 300 metres long and carry 2 million barrels of oil.
A 'supertanker' is a classification for the very largest crude oil tankers, typically over 250,000 deadweight tonnes. Smaller vessels are just called oil tankers or product tankers.
They are central to global oil supply. Accidents involving them can cause major environmental disasters (e.g., Exxon Valdez), making them newsworthy.
Yes. It's often used to describe large corporations or governments that are powerful but slow to change direction, e.g., 'Turning the bureaucracy around was like steering a supertanker.'
An extremely large ship designed to transport massive quantities of crude oil or petroleum products.
Supertanker is usually specialised / technical in register.
Supertanker: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsuː.pəˈtæŋ.kər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsuː.pɚˈtæŋ.kɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphor] Turn/steer a supertanker: To attempt to change the direction of a large, slow-moving organisation or system.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SUPER (very large) + TANKER (ship for liquids). A super-sized tanker for oil.
Conceptual Metaphor
LARGE ORGANISATIONS ARE SHIPS; DIFFICULT-TO-CHANGE SYSTEMS ARE SUPER TANKERS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary cargo of a supertanker?