mileage

American  

[mahy-lij] / ˈmaɪ lɪdʒ /

Also milage

noun

1. the aggregate number of miles traveled over in a given time.

2. length, extent, or distance in miles.

3. the number of miles or the average distance that a vehicle can travel on a specified quantity of fuel.

   the car gets good mileage.

4. wear, use, advantage, or profit.

   She won't get much more mileage out of this old coat.

5. an allowance for traveling expenses at a fixed rate per mile.

   His mileage came to $90.

6. a fixed charge per mile, as for railroad transportation.

7. mileage ticket.

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mileage British  

/ ˈmaɪlɪdʒ /

noun

1. a distance expressed in miles

2. the total number of miles that a motor vehicle has travelled

3. allowance for travelling expenses, esp as a fixed rate per mile

4. the number of miles a motor vehicle will travel on one gallon of fuel

5. informal use, benefit, or service provided by something

   this scheme has a lot of mileage left

6. informal grounds, substance, or weight

   some mileage in the objectors' arguments

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Etymology

Origin of mileage

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55; mile + -age

Example Sentences

That said, your mileage may vary — I support your right to a big dramatic leaf moment if the mood strikes.

From Salon

These figures are necessarily conjectural, because your mileage may vary — in fact, everyone’s mileage varies.

From Los Angeles Times

Federal and state prosecutors in New York this year have charged dozens of companies for fraudulently billing Medicaid for driving beneficiaries to appointments that never occurred or for inflating mileage of the trips.

From The Wall Street Journal

He wrote down monthly water-meter readings and the mileage on vehicles at oil changes.

From The Wall Street Journal

The admin task of calculating their mileage would put potential EV owners off making the switch, she says.

From BBC

Related Words

• length