trade route

noun

1

: one of the sea-lanes ordinarily used by merchant ships

2

: a route followed by traders (as in caravans)

Examples of trade route in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Iran and Oman, which also borders the strait, have been holding talks to try to resolve the trade route’s future. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 3 Aug. 2026

The sheer number of ships − study authors cite at least 1,500 vessels − idled near the trade route and the length of time involved are just the beginning. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026

The drills came after Beijing criticized Manila’s attempts to extend its seabed rights in the South China Sea, a vital global trade route with rich undersea deposits of gas and oil that China claims almost in its entirety. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026

The Houthis have declared a blockade of Saudi shipping and threatened to choke off another crucial Middle East trade route, the Bab el-Mandeb strait from the Red Sea into the Gulf of Aden. — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for trade route

• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• constitute
• convolute
• destitute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute
• involute

Kids Definition

trade route

noun

1

: one of the sea-lanes used by merchant ships

2

: a route followed by traders (as in caravans)