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Synonyms

garbage can

American  

noun

  1. a container, usually of metal or plastic, for the disposal of waste matter, especially kitchen refuse.

garbage can British  

noun

  1. Also called: ash bin.   ash can.   trash can.   dustbin.  a large, usually cylindrical container for refuse, esp one used by a household

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of garbage can

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“No Black person’s ever asked me why Mookie threw the garbage can through the window,” he notes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025

A few minutes later I came upon another man, who was digging through a garbage can for something to drink.

From Salon • Aug. 5, 2025

Our staff wrote dozens and dozens of excellent jokes, well constructed, funny, interesting, surprising jokes that we threw in the garbage can because they weren’t right for our show’s particular tone.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2024

I’d hide forbidden foods in the garbage can in my bedroom.

From Slate • Jul. 20, 2024

“I’m sure they will, Brady,” Dad replied as he dumped the contents of the dustpan into a big garbage can.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.