tonnage

noun

ton·​nage ˈtə-nij 

1

a

: the cubical content of a merchant ship in units of 100 cubic feet

b

: the displacement of a warship

2

a

: total weight in tons shipped, carried, or produced

b

: impressively large amount or weight

3

: a duty formerly levied on every tun of wine imported into England

4

a

: a duty or impost on vessels based on cargo capacity

b

: a duty on goods per ton transported

5

: ships in terms of the total number of tons registered or carried or of their carrying capacity

Examples of tonnage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Greenland Mines Ltd describes the formation as hosting a significant tonnage of gold, palladium, platinum, vanadium, and gallium. —Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026

The world’s largest container shipping firm by tonnage carried will operate a trucking service from King Abdullah to Dammam Port, where feeder vessels will pick up cargo and sail it to major ports throughout the Persian Gulf. —Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 4 May 2026

Greenland Mines Ltd describes the formation as hosting a significant tonnage of gold, palladium, platinum, vanadium, and gallium. —Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026

The county is currently reviewing thousands of public comments on the environmental impact report, which analyzes the impact of the tonnage increase, said Supervisor Katrina Foley, whose district includes the landfill. —Claire Wang, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

in sense 3, from Middle English, from Anglo-French, from tonne tun; in other senses, from ton entry 1 — more at tunnel

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for tonnage

• dunnage

Kids Definition

tonnage

noun

ton·​nage ˈtən-ij 

1

: a tax on ships based on tons carried

2

: ships in terms of the total number of tons that are or can be carried

3

: total weight in tons shipped, carried, or mined