WordGarden.iotransportation
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /trænspɔːtˈeɪʃən/
US
- /ˌtrænspərˈteɪʃən/
Meanings
Noun
the movement or system of moving people or goods from place to place
Beyond the definition
Transportation isn't just about cars and planes. It's the movement of people or things from one place to another, whether it's you, your groceries, or a huge shipment of toys. Think back to when humans first needed to move things: they used animals, then built boats, and later invented wheels. Today, transportation is a vital part of our lives, connecting cities and countries through roads, railways, airways, and waterways. A busy port city relies heavily on transportation for trade, while a remote village might depend on it for basic supplies.
Transportation can also be used more broadly to describe the system that allows this movement, such as "public transportation" or the "transportation industry." It's not just about the journey; it's about the whole network that makes it possible. Imagine a story where a young inventor dreams of revolutionizing transportation with a new, eco-friendly vehicle—that's the power and potential wrapped up in this one word!
Transportation encompasses all the ways people or goods are moved from one location to another. It is far more than just vehicles; it is an entire system built around movement, logistics, and accessibility. Historically, transportation evolved from simple methods like walking and using pack animals to the invention of the steam engine and the development of complex global networks of roads, railways, waterways, and airways.
The word is used in several distinct ways. You might talk about means of transportation—cars, trains, airplanes, bicycles, or even your own two feet. Alternatively, you could discuss the industry of transportation, which includes shipping, airlines, and public transit systems. Phrases like "the transportation sector is vital to the global economy" highlight its critical role in trade and commerce.
Beyond logistics, the word has a specific historical meaning. In the 18th and 19th centuries, "transportation" referred to a legal sentence where convicts were exiled to a penal colony. In a more modern and abstract sense, while we usually use the verb "transport" to describe being carried away by emotion—like a song that "transports" you to a cherished memory—the noun transportation remains the umbrella term for the systems that move our physical world.
Consider this: A farmer transporting crops to market relies on transportation for their livelihood. A family taking a road trip creates memories through the act of transportation. From everyday commutes to international trade, transportation is the lifeblood of modern society—connecting us all and enabling progress in countless ways.
Examples
- 1
Public transit
In this city, public transportation is cheap and easy to use.
- 2
Travel mode
Cycling is my main mode of transportation in summer.
- Phrasemode of transportation
way of traveling
- 3
Airport shuttle
The hotel offers free transportation to and from the airport.
- Phraseto and from
going both ways
- 4
Job access
I couldn't accept the job because I didn't have reliable transportation.
- Phrasereliable transportation
a dependable way to get where you need to go, often a car
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
School travel
The school provides transportation for students who live far away.
- 6
Weather disruption
Heavy snow disrupted road transportation all morning.
- 7
Business costs
Rising fuel prices have increased transportation costs for small businesses.
- 8
Regional connections
Better transportation links could bring more visitors to the town.
- Phrasetransportation links
roads, rail lines, and other connections between places
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- public transportation
- transportation system
- means of transportation
- transportation costs
Word family
Explore
- logistics
- infrastructure
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- transportationnoun
Forms
- transportationspluralnoun