spray can

IPA/ˈspreɪ kæn/
IPA/ˈspreɪ kæn/

spray can — noun

1. a metal can that holds paint inside at high pressure and releases it as a thin s

1.nounB1
Definition

a metal can that holds paint inside at high pressure and releases it as a thin stream through a small nozzle when you push down, often used for home decorating or for making pictures on walls

Example

Takeshi bought three spray cans from the hardware store to paint his wooden garden fence.

collocation: spray can + of + colour / paint

The street artist used a spray can to create a huge mural on the side of the old library.

Common collocations
  • spray can of paint
  • spray can + colour name
  • shake a spray can
  • point a spray can at
  • aerosol spray can
Synonyms
  • aerosol can

    more general term that covers any pressurized dispenser, not just paint

  • spray paint can

    more explicit — makes clear it contains paint, not another substance

Usage Note

This sense refers specifically to cans that hold paint, not other liquids such as deodorant or cooking oil. Distinguish from the general aerosol sense (sense 2).

Common Mistakes

I bought a spray can of soda.
I bought a can of soda.
'spray can' is only used for containers that spray their contents out under pressure, not for ordinary drink cans.
He sprayed the fence with a spray can of water.
He sprayed the fence with a spray can of paint.
This sense is used only for paint; for other liquids use sense 2.

2. a metal or plastic container that uses gas pressure to push a liquid out as a fi

2.nounB2
Definition

a metal or plastic container that uses gas pressure to push a liquid out as a fine mist or foam, used for products such as deodorant, hairspray, cleaning fluids, insect repellent, or cooking oil

Example

Heather keeps a spray can of lavender air freshener on her desk at work.

collocation: spray can of [product]

The cleaner sprayed disinfectant from a spray can onto every counter in the waiting room.

Common collocations
  • spray can of deodorant
  • spray can of hairspray
  • spray can of insect repellent
  • spray can of cooking oil
  • spray can of cleaning fluid
  • spray can of air freshener
Synonyms
  • aerosol

    shorter form, common in technical and commercial contexts

  • pressurized can

    more technical, focuses on the mechanism rather than the spray function

Antonyms
  • spray bottle

    uses a hand-pump mechanism instead of gas pressure

Usage Note

Frequently used with a noun phrase after 'of' that names the product inside (e.g. 'a spray can of deodorant'). Cannot be used for products that come in pump-action bottles (those are spray bottles, not spray cans).

Common Mistakes

She used a spray can to water the plants.
She used a spray bottle to water the plants.
A spray can uses gas pressure; a spray bottle uses a hand pump.
The spray can of perfume was almost empty.
The perfume bottle was almost empty.
Perfume typically comes in glass bottles with a pump, not in a spray can.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Spray can is the everyday term for a pressurized container that sprays paint. It is the most common word in casual and artistic contexts. Aerosol can is slightly more technical and covers any pressurized dispenser — not just paint, but also deodorant, insect repellent, and cleaning products. Spray paint can makes the contents explicit and is used when you need to distinguish paint containers from other aerosol products. Aerosol alone (without 'can') functions as a countable noun in technical writing — for example, 'the propellant in this aerosol is butane.' In British English, aerosol can is more common than spray can for non-paint uses, while North American speakers often say spray can for both paint and other products. For everyday conversation, spray can is the safest choice; for formal or technical writing, use aerosol can.

spray can ↗aerosol canspray paint canaerosol ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a spray can of
  • shake a spray can
  • press the top of a spray can
  • spray can + contents (paint / deodorant / insect repellent)

Prepositions

Etymology

Middle DutchOld EnglishEnglish

Spray comes from Middle Dutch 'spraeyen', meaning 'to sprinkle or scatter drops of water'. Can comes from Old English 'canne', a general word for a drinking vessel or container. The two words were first combined in the early 20th century as pressurized containers became common for dispensing paint and other liquids as a fine mist.

First known use

1958

1958, in the meaning defined above