transportation

noun

trans·​por·​ta·​tion ˌtran(t)s-pər-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce transportation (audio)
1
: an act, process, or instance of transporting or being transported
2
a
: means of conveyance or travel from one place to another
b
: public conveyance of passengers or goods especially as a commercial enterprise
3
: banishment to a penal colony
transportational adjective

Examples of transportation in a Sentence

the transportation of troops overseas She arranged for the transportation of her furniture to her new apartment. He was the U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President Reagan.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The measure will appear on voters’ ballots this year and could overhaul the region’s transportation system. Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025 This increases the reliability and capacity of hyperloop transportation networks. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025 Key Background The Justice Department charged Brown, 34, on Wednesday with committing an act causing a death on a mass transportation system, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty. Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 He was also charged federally Tuesday with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. Wesley Bruer, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for transportation

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of transportation was in 1540

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Cite this Entry

“Transportation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transportation. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

transportation

noun
trans·​por·​ta·​tion ˌtran(t)s-pər-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce transportation (audio)
1
: an act, process, or instance of transporting or being transported
2
: exile to a penal colony
3
a
: a means or method of transport
was left without transportation when the car died
b
: the public transporting of passengers or goods usually for a price

More from Merriam-Webster on transportation

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