plural freights
1
a
: goods that are carried by ships, trains, trucks, or airplanes
trains that carry both passengers and freight
The freight arrived by steamboat.
b
: the system by which goods are carried from one place to another
The order was shipped by freight.
2
: the amount of money paid for carrying goods
paid the full freight
—sometimes used figuratively in U.S. Englishparents struggling to pay the freight [=to pay] for their children's college education
He warns that taxpayers will end up paying the freight for the new stadium.
3
US
: freight train
an eastbound freight
freights; freighted; freighting
1
: to send (goods) from one place to another
cargo freighted by airplane
2
: to cause (something) to have or carry many things : to load or burden (something)
—usually used as (be) freighted
an essay freighted with complex arguments [=an essay that has too many complex arguments]
Cite this Entry
“Freight.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/freight. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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