mileage

American  

[mahy-lij] / ˈmaɪ lɪdʒ /

Also milage

noun

1. the aggregate number of miles traveled over in a given time.

2. length, extent, or distance in miles.

3. the number of miles or the average distance that a vehicle can travel on a specified quantity of fuel.

   the car gets good mileage.

4. wear, use, advantage, or profit.

   She won't get much more mileage out of this old coat.

5. an allowance for traveling expenses at a fixed rate per mile.

   His mileage came to $90.

6. a fixed charge per mile, as for railroad transportation.

7. mileage ticket.

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mileage British  

/ ˈmaɪlɪdʒ /

noun

1. a distance expressed in miles

2. the total number of miles that a motor vehicle has travelled

3. allowance for travelling expenses, esp as a fixed rate per mile

4. the number of miles a motor vehicle will travel on one gallon of fuel

5. informal use, benefit, or service provided by something

   this scheme has a lot of mileage left

6. informal grounds, substance, or weight

   some mileage in the objectors' arguments

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Etymology

Origin of mileage

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55; mile + -age

Example Sentences

Previously, the mileage was 20,000 with an excess of 5p a mile.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Suddenly, smaller cars with higher gas mileage numbers were hot — and hard to find.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Simply making sure your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by as much as 3.3%, according to the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026

Retirees frequently maintain high mileage estimates, unnecessary collision coverage on aging vehicles or coverage limits that were designed for long daily commutes during working years.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

"They all have their mileage cut to under under ten thou before they're offered for sale. And to think I invented that all by myself," he added proudly.

From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl

Related Words

• length