mass transit

noun

chiefly US
: the transportation of large numbers of people by means of buses, subway trains, etc., especially within urban areas
also : the system, vehicles, or facilities engaged in such transportation
I rode mass transit—first the bus, then Metro—for nearly two decades. Fred Barnes

Examples of mass transit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For the past several years, SEPTA has honored Black History Month while continuing to honor LeCount's contributions to the mass transit system that still serves the region. Natasha Brown, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026 The Villages would enjoy better mass transit, employment and commercial uses, parks and public spaces and narrower streets with wider sidewalks. Nico Calavita, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026 Some suburbs are considering microtransit alternatives to DART, similar to the on-demand system Arlington uses in lieu of mass transit. Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026 There must be a way to have a smooth-running mass transit system here, at least from morning rush hour into the evening. Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mass transit

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mass transit was in 1930

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mass transit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mass%20transit. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster