freighter

American  

[fray-ter] / ˈfreɪ tər /

noun

1. a vessel used mainly for carrying cargo.

2. a large aircraft or spacecraft used primarily for transporting cargo and equipment.

   The space station of the future will be supplied by robot freighters.

3. a person whose occupation it is to receive and forward freight.

4. a person for whom freight is transported; shipper.

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freighter British  

/ ˈfreɪtə /

noun

1. a ship or aircraft designed for transporting cargo

2. a person concerned with the loading or chartering of a ship

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Etymology

Origin of freighter

First recorded in 1615–25; freight + -er ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

freighter

The latest reported delays follow the group’s decision last year to put off the launch of a freighter version of the A350 due to broader supply chain disruption.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

There was a close call at Newark Liberty International Airport last week, when an Alaska Air plane flew over a FedEx freighter when both were attempting to land on crossing runways at the same time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026

The MD-11F freighter operated by UPS, crashed after one of its engines separated from the wing as it was preparing to take off from Louisville.

From BBC ● Jan. 15, 2026

In one operation about 35 nautical miles from the small island of Gavdos, off Crete, a coastguard vessel, a Danish freighter and a helicopter took 365 people off a fishing boat, according to the agency.

From Barron's ● Dec. 26, 2025

So he told his friend Wergin there was a freighter they could board that was heading to Japan with a stop in California.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

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