depot

American  

[dee-poh, dep-oh] / ˈdi poʊ, ˈdɛp oʊ /

noun

depots plural

1. a railroad station.

   Synonyms:

   terminal

2. a bus station.

   Synonyms:

   terminal

3. Military.

   1. a place in which supplies and materials are stored for distribution.

   2. (formerly) a place where recruits are assembled for classification, initial training, and assignment to active units.

4. a storehouse or warehouse, as a building where freight is deposited.

5. Physiology. a place where body products not actively involved in metabolic processes are accumulated, deposited, or stored.

---

depot British  

/ ˈdiːpəʊ, ˈdɛpəʊ /

noun

1. a storehouse or warehouse

2. military

   1. a store for supplies

   2. a training and holding centre for recruits and replacements

3. a building used for the storage and servicing of buses or railway engines

4. 1. a bus or railway station

   2. ( as modifier )

      a depot manager

---

adjective

1. (of a drug or drug dose) designed for gradual release from the site of an injection so as to act over a long period

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subdepot
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• depots
  plural

Etymology

Origin of depot

1785–95; < French dépot < Latin dēpositum, noun use of neuter of dēpositus; see deposit

Explanation

A depot is a place where things are stored in large quantities for future use. Your office might have a depot in the back where supplies are stored. Depot came into English from the French word dépôt, meaning "a deposit, place of deposit." A depot can be a place like a warehouse where items are temporarily deposited, but we also use it for a train or bus station. In this case, think of it as a place where a many passengers are being temporarily housed. Your bus trip might require you to get off one bus at a big depot, and transfer to another.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

depot depots

Corley, who died in 2023, said on the show that Corriveau had initially opened a “big-ass, really fine pool hall” in a former Little Rock train station depot.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

Eiffel Calla, head of security at the depot, says five drivers from their company have been attacked.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

The mayor said Friday that she planned to seize the 10-acre parcel of land housing the fuel depot through eminent-domain proceedings, escalating a conflict that has drawn in some of Miami’s most powerful economic players.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

“We will be the only port in the country…without its own fuel depot, which is insane,” said Joe Garcia, a former Democratic congressman who organized the rally.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026

Schindler reaches the depot barely in time to yell Stern's name and pull him off the train just as it starts to move.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson

Several Russian regions have also experienced fuel shortages, causing hours-long queues for petrol, due to Ukraine hitting oil and fuel depots.

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

LA Metro has sought $2 billion in federal funding for the planned transit service for the Games, which includes leasing buses, hiring drivers and building temporary depots.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

Intensifying Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s refineries, export terminals and oil depots have dented the oil industry, one of Moscow’s most important sources of income.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

The RMT said its previous strike on Tuesday "was strongly supported by RMT members with well attended picket lines at Tube stations and depots".

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

Everything was up for grabs, from battle plans to spy reports to the locations of supply depots.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• armory
• garage
• store
• storehouse
• terminal
• yard