freight

American  

[freyt] / freɪt /

noun

1. goods, cargo, or lading transported for pay, whether by water, land, or air.

2. the ordinary conveyance or means of transport of goods provided by common carriers (express ).

   Shipping by freight is less expensive.

3. the charges, fee, or compensation paid for such transportation.

   We pay the freight.

   Synonyms:

   haulage, freightage

4. (especially in Britain) the cargo, or any part of the cargo, of a vessel; merchandise transported by water.

5. Chiefly British. transportation of goods by water.

6. freight train.

7. Slang. cost or price, especially when high.

   I'd like a larger house, but can't afford the freight.

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verb (used with object)

1. to load; burden.

   a story heavily freighted with private meaning.

   Synonyms:

   charge

2. to load with goods or merchandise for transportation.

   It took all night to freight the ship.

3. to transport as freight; send by freight.

freight British  

/ freɪt /

noun

1. 1. commercial transport that is slower and cheaper than express

   2. the price charged for such transport

   3. goods transported by this means

   4. ( as modifier )

      freight transport

2. a ship's cargo or part of it

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verb

1. to load with goods for transport

2. to convey commercially as or by freight

3. to load or burden; charge

Related Words

Freight, cargo, shipment refer to goods being transported from place to place. Freight is the general term for goods transported from one place to another by any means: to send freight from New York to New Orleans. Cargo is the term generally used for goods carried by ship or plane: to send a cargo to Europe. Shipment is a quantity of goods destined for a particular place, no matter how sent: a shipment of potatoes.

Other Word Forms

• freightless adjective
• overfreight verb (used with object)
• unfreighted adjective

Etymology

Origin of freight

1350–1400; Middle English freyght (noun), from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German vrecht, variant of vracht. See fraught

Example Sentences

Babin has at times shrunk positions and tightened her risk threshold in response to volatility, racing to understand fast-changing freight costs and insurance premiums.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the final quarter of 2025, its supply chain and post and parcel Germany units both reported an increase in EBIT, while the express shipping, freight forwarding and e-commerce businesses registered declines.

From The Wall Street Journal

Trucking contacts in Cleveland described market rates as “exploding” while acknowledging that freight volumes haven’t picked up.

From Barron's

When supply is constrained, freight rates rise, and higher prices drive profitability.

From The Wall Street Journal

Persistent recession in the freight market also impacted orders for trucks, it said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• carriage
• consignment
• merchandise
• payload
• shipment
• shipping
• transportation