shipping

noun

ship·​ping ˈshi-piŋ 

1

a

: passage on a ship

b

: ships

c

: the body of ships in one place or belonging to one port or country

2

: the act or business of one that ships

Examples of shipping in a Sentence

The fruit was ready for shipping.

They protected our shipping from submarines during wartime.

Recent Examples on the Web

Enabled by revolutionary advances in communications, computers, and shipping, multinational firms dramatically reduced their costs and enlarged their markets by developing global supply and distribution chains. —Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026

Moscow has rebuilt Cold War-era bases, expanded Arctic military infrastructure, deployed advanced missile systems, and asserted control over polar shipping routes. —Paul McCarthy, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026

In practice, ice-free summers will open up additional shipping lanes as decreasing ice leads to increasing activity. —Chloe Demrovsky, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Morteza Nikoubazl | Nurphoto | Getty Images Blocking the waterway, even temporarily, can ratchet up global energy prices, raise shipping costs and cause significant supply delays. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing shipping

• shipping and handling
• shipping clerk
• shipping crates

Rhymes for shipping

• chipping
• clipping
• dipping
• dripping
• flipping
• gripping
• nipping
• ripping
• sipping
• skipping
• slipping
• snipping

Kids Definition

shipping

noun

ship·​ping

ˈship-iŋ

1

: the body of ships in one place or belonging to one port or country

2

: the act or business of one that ships goods