transportation

American  

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

noun

1. the act of transporting.

2. the state of being 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

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.

Example Sentences

His new holding company, DotOne, purports to be involved in cryptocurrency, logistics, transportation, aviation and telecommunications, according to Kharon.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Climbing gas costs translate to higher prices for other goods as manufacturers price in the increased cost of transportation.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

Federal transportation officials have announced measures aimed at limiting fare spikes, with major airlines agreeing to offer rebooking options and capped fares on select routes previously served by Spirit.

From Salon • May 2, 2026

In addition, transportation costs are also high, increasing the costs for companies to access the recycled materials market.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Denied a bed and hospitality for the night, Booth and Herold continued to search for transportation at the house of one of Stuart’s neighbors, a man of color named Lucas.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Related Words

• shipment
• shipping
• transit
• transport