mass transit

noun

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Definition of mass transit

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

See mass transit defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of mass transit from the Web

Now, The Information reports that sources from inside Apple are saying the company is planning to expand the use of NFC in the next month, bringing it to other secure wireless interactions like unlocking doors and paying for mass transit.

— liz stinson, Curbed, "iPhone’s wireless payment technology could be used to unlock doors soon," 31 May 2018
The focus in India, the bank’s biggest borrower, has been on rural roads, mass transit and power projects.

— iain marlow, Bloomberg.com, "China-Backed AIIB Eyes $1 Billion Infrastructure Push in India," 28 Feb. 2018
Their current projects in the Arts & Entertainment district are located near public transportation hubs, because the Melos believe mass transit will be Miami's next major game-changer.

— rene rodriguez, miamiherald, "This Argentine family visited Miami in 2001 — and changed the city forever," 11 June 2018
Public schools closed, above ground mass transit may be reduced.

— adam k. raymond, Daily Intelligencer, "Fourth Nor’easter of March, and First of the Spring, Hits East Coast," 21 Mar. 2018
But for American supporters of mass transit, such refinements may take a back seat to the chronic underinvestment that has left systems including the New York subway and Amtrak an increasingly unsafe and inefficient mess.

— david z. morris, Fortune, "These Subtle Psychological Hacks Keep Japan's Trains Running Smoothly," 27 May 2018
The topics deal with wages, housing, arts and culture, mental health, guns, opioids, mass transit, the convention center and more.

— scott maxwell, OrlandoSentinel.com, "15 questions for the candidates for Orange County mayor. Where do they stand?," 24 May 2018
This city is unraveling fast: Water doesn’t reach most homes, mass transit is grinding to a halt and businesses are closing in the face of hyperinflation expected to top 13,000% this year.

— ryan dube, WSJ, "The Lights Have Gone Out in Caracas," 13 May 2018
The ordinance also would call on the resort to provide access to a vanpool, private bus or passes for mass transit to help employees get to work.

— hugo martin, latimes.com, "Signatures submitted for ballot measure to require panic buttons for Terranea and Trump golf club workers," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mass transit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.