railroad

1 of 2

noun

rail·​road ˈrāl-ˌrōd 

ˈrel-;

ˈre-ˌrōd 

: a permanent road having a line of rails fixed to ties and laid on a roadbed and providing a track for cars or equipment drawn by locomotives or propelled by self-contained motors

also : such a road and its assets constituting a single property

railroad

2 of 2

verb

railroaded; railroading; railroads

transitive verb

1

a

: to convict with undue haste and by means of false charges or insufficient evidence

b

: to push through hastily or without due consideration

2

: to transport by railroad

intransitive verb

: to work for a railroad company

railroader noun

Synonyms of railroad

Noun

• road
• railway

Examples of railroad in a Sentence

Noun

that railroad hasn't been used for passenger trains for decades

Verb

a controversial law that is being railroaded through Congress

a bill that was railroaded into law

They claim she was railroaded.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Republican primary runoff race for Railroad Commissioner candidates The office is misnamed, as the office does not oversee the state railroads. —Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 7 May 2026

The war in Iran has led to a hike in fuel prices impacting all facets of the supply chain, railroads included. —Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 May 2026

Verb

The main roundhouse that houses the knockout collection of American railroading treasures remains untouched, but parts of the property facing the Pigtown neighborhood are being completely reimagined. —Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2026

In a sneak peek of the final episode shared with Variety, Nelson finally gets a proof-of-life from his ex-wife Marsha (Christine Adams), who is being hunted in the woods by accomplices of the same shadowy figures that have railroaded Nelson into hijacking the train. —K.j. Yossman, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1757, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1829, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing railroad

• railroad bridge
• railroad crossing
• railroad flat
• railroad worm

Rhymes for railroad

• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode
• corrode
• crossroad

Kids Definition

railroad

1 of 2 noun

rail·​road ˈrā(ə)l-ˌrōd 

1

: a permanent road that has parallel steel rails which make a track for cars

2

: a railroad together with the lands, buildings, locomotives, cars, and other equipment that belong to it

railroad

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to send by railroad

b

: to work on a railroad

2

a

: to push (as a bill) through a legislature in a rush

b

: to convict and send to prison without much evidence or by means of false charges

railroader noun