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
Derived 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 Logistics Managers’ Index, a monthly survey of supply-chain managers, showed transportation prices increased in May at the fastest rate for any metric in the report’s 10-year history.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Malcolm Taylor, executive member for highways and transportation at NYC, said: "Our trees and woodlands are some of the county's greatest natural assets."
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
April’s producer price index, for example, showed that perishable food prices were already bearing the brunt of higher transportation costs.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Giannoulias, who pushed for the law after he said he and his young daughters were almost struck by an e-moto on a sidewalk, said he wasn’t trying to snuff out a fledgling form of transportation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
These are the sedans used by team players for transportation around the city—but still, best not to arouse suspicions.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
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.
