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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• nontransportation noun
• pretransportation noun

Etymology

Origin of transportation

First recorded in 1530–40; transport + -ation

Example Sentences

Hagen added that “adjustments to our transportation operations will result in some mailpieces not arriving at our originating processing facilities on the same day that they are mailed.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

“These fuel surcharges really feel like tariffs 2.0,” said Mazur, referring to the fees parcel carriers charge to offset transportation costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Healthcare and education gained 58,000 jobs, and construction added 30,000, but trade and transportation shed 58,000 positions.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Hatzola is a large non-profit, Jewish-led organisation that provides a free emergency medical response and transportation, regardless of faith, to hospitals by volunteer medics.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Quickly I check out public transportation, and find out I’ll need to take three buses in order to make it to Rhiannon’s town.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

Related Words

• shipment
• shipping
• transit
• transport