transportation
Americannoun
-
the act of transporting.
-
the state of being transported.
-
the means of transport or conveyance.
-
the business of conveying people, goods, etc.
-
price of travel or transport by public conveyance; fare.
-
tickets or permits for transport or travel.
-
banishment, as of a criminal to a penal colony; deportation.
-
Also called Transportation Department. (initial capital letter) the Department of Transportation.
noun
-
a means or system of transporting
-
the act of transporting or the state of being transported
-
(esp formerly) deportation to a penal colony
-
a ticket or fare
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of transportation
Explanation
If you spend $60 a month on subway fare, then your monthly transportation cost is $60, meaning it costs you $60 each month to get from one place to another. The noun transportation often is used to describe the process of moving things. You might make transportation arrangements, for example, for shipping a pet across the country. Transportation can also refer to a formal system for moving things from place to place, like a public transportation system like the subway or public bus or a transportation company that specializes in moving goods from coast to coast.
Vocabulary lists containing transportation
The United States
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Africa - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Canada - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The findings could help improve cold-chain transportation for tropical fruits while reducing waste and extending shelf life.
From Science Daily • May 23, 2026
The indirect effect comes as those costs spread through transportation, manufacturing and goods prices.
From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026
Targeted positions include gardeners, bus supervisors and other transportation workers.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
Frustrated by traffic, Musk founded The Boring Company in 2016, initially as a SpaceX subsidiary, with grand promises of transforming urban transportation through a network of underground tunnels.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
Mama was in no shape for public transportation, and I felt rather shaky myself.
From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
