intermodal

American  

[in-ter-mohd-l] / ˌɪn tərˈmoʊd l /

adjective

Transportation.

1. pertaining to or suitable for transportation involving more than one form of carrier, as truck and rail, or truck, ship, and rail.

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intermodal British  

/ ˌɪntəˈməʊdəl /

adjective

1. (of a transport system) using different modes of conveyance in conjunction, such as ships, aircraft, road vehicles, etc

2. (of a container) able to be carried by different modes of conveyance without being unpacked

3. psychol denoting an interaction between different senses

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Other Word Forms

• intermodalism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of intermodal

First recorded in 1960–65; inter- + modal

Explanation

Intermodal means using more than one form of transportation, especially to ship goods from one place to another. Intermodal shipment might include both a train and a cargo ship. Intermodal usually describes the overseas shipping industry: goods might be sent in a shipping container that starts on a freight train, is moved to a ship, and is finally loaded onto a truck. For passenger travel, an intermodal trip might involve taking the bus to the train station, then traveling by rail to the airport. Intermodal, coined in the mid-20th century, comes from inter-, "between," and modal, "pertaining to a mode or variety."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intermodal

High fuel prices and rising truck rates are leading shippers to opt for slower, cheaper intermodal transit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

But intermodal is also cheaper and more fuel-efficient, which has made the transportation mode particularly attractive as fuel prices have soared due to the war in Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

“Humble aims to partner with ports, terminal operators, and intermodal shipping companies for initial deployments,” Cohen said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2026

Volumes improved in the company’s intermodal, trucking, and freight brokerage businesses.

From Barron's ● Apr. 15, 2026

Hunt’s revenue, excluding fuel surcharges, rose 3%, with volumes improving across intermodal, trucking, and freight brokerage.

From Barron's ● Apr. 15, 2026