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

Upcoming events at the railroad include the Stockyard Trinity River Excursion, a 45-minute ride that begins at the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards Station, crosses the West Fork of the Trinity River, passes Montgomery Plaza, travels through Trinity Park and then returns to the Stockyards. —Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2026

Fittingly, another coach showcases the completion of the transcontinental railroad at the 1869 Golden Spike Ceremony. —Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026

Verb

Superintendent Joe Maluchnik was placed on administrative leave last year and one board member said that the district leader was a whistleblower being railroaded for questioning past financial practices. —Mike Darnay, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026

Make a point of inviting feedback to ensure no one feels railroaded. —Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 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