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

The neighborhood has developed from an industrial shipping hub to an epicenter of new development, with towering high-rise apartments, breweries and an entertainment district advertising a new Dave and Busters set to open in 2026. —Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026

Two weeks into the Iran war, hopes for a quick resolution to the Strait of Hormuz shipping crisis are fading fast. —Benzinga, Freep.com, 14 Mar. 2026

In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping though the narrows, and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points. —Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

This reduces the number of vessels that can transport goods between American ports, limiting shipping options and boosting costs. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 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