railroad

American  

[reyl-rohd] / ˈreɪlˌroʊd /

noun

1. a permanent road laid with rails, commonly in one or more pairs of continuous lines forming a track or tracks, on which locomotives and cars are run for the transportation of passengers, freight, and mail.

2. an entire system of such roads together with its rolling stock, buildings, etc.; the entire railway plant, including fixed and movable property.

3. the company of persons owning or operating such a plant.

4. Bowling. a split.

5. railroads, stocks or bonds of railroad companies.

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verb (used with object)

railroads, present (3rd person singular) railroaded, past participle, past railroading present participle

1. to transport by means of a railroad.

2. to supply with railroads.

3. Informal. to push (a law or bill) hastily through a legislature so that there is not time enough for objections to be considered.

4. Informal. to convict (a person) in a hasty manner by means of false charges or insufficient evidence.

   The prisoner insisted he had been railroaded.

verb (used without object)

railroads, present (3rd person singular) railroaded, past participle, past railroading present participle

1. to work on a railroad.

railroad British  

/ ˈreɪlˌrəʊd /

noun

1. the usual US word for railway

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verb

1. informal (tr) to force (a person) into (an action) with haste or by unfair means

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unrailroaded
  adjective
• prorailroad
  adjective
• prerailroad
  adjective
• nonrailroad
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has railroaded
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have railroaded
  perfect
• have been railroading
  perfect progressive
• is railroading
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am railroading
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been railroading
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are railroading
  progressive
• railroading
  participle
• railroads
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had railroaded
  perfect
• railroaded
  simple
• had been railroading
  perfect progressive
• were railroading
  progressive plural
• was railroading
  progressive singular
• railroaded
  participle

Future

• will railroad
  simple
• will have railroaded
  perfect
• will have been railroading
  perfect progressive
• will be railroading
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of railroad

1750–60; 1875–85 railroad for def. 9; rail ¹ + road

Explanation

The system of tracks that trains run on can be called a railroad. A railroad is made up of the actual tracks, crossings, and stations, as well as the people who keep the trains running and scream, "All aboard!" If you prefer traveling by railroad, you like to ride trains, whether to the next town over or all the way across the country. Many railroad tracks in the US are used for freight trains that deliver goods around the country. When railroad is a verb, it can mean "move by train," but it's more likely to mean "force or coerce someone to do something," like when you railroad your brother into taking out the trash for you.

Example Sentences

Transportation construction spending, as the government defines it, refers to structures used for transportation, such as airport hangars, bus terminals, railroad tracks and marinas.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

For most of American history, Congress created new boards or commissions with a specific mission, such as regulating railroad rates in the 1880s or nuclear power in the 1970s.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

Nonbanks, such as railroad companies, issued their own currency.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

In the 1870s, Leland Stanford, the railroad magnate and benefactor of the university that bears his name, funded an effort to find out.

From Slate • May 25, 2026

Before we went home, we watched for a while as the workmen started to take apart the railroad trestle.

From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman

Related Words

• rail line
• railway
• subway