transportation

American  

[trans-per-tey-shuhn] / ˌtræns pərˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of transporting.

2. the state of being transported. transported.

3. the means of transport or conveyance.

4. the business of conveying people, goods, etc.

5. price of travel or transport by public conveyance; fare.

6. tickets or permits for transport or travel.

7. banishment, as of a criminal to a penal colony; deportation.

8. Also called Transportation Department.  (initial capital letter) the Department of Transportation.

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transportation British  

/ ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a means or system of transporting

2. the act of transporting or the state of being transported

3. (esp formerly) deportation to a penal colony

4. a ticket or fare

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Other Word Forms

• nontransportation noun
• pretransportation noun

Etymology

Origin of transportation

First recorded in 1530–40; transport + -ation

Example Sentences

Otis’s brake solved the central problem of vertical transportation: safety.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

The extra cents you pay at the pump are used to fund roads and other transportation infrastructure, making them a perfect example of user-pays excise taxes.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

The 50 percent reduction will apply from April 1 to May 31 on all domestic routes and for all classes, public rail operator LTG announced in a joint statement with the transportation ministry.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway, for the past month has meant the production and transportation of energy across the Middle East has slowed or stopped entirely.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Too much went to pay overhead—consultants, intermediaries, transportation companies, government fees—and not enough reached those in need.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• shipment
• shipping
• transit
• transport