# freighter

/ˈfɹeɪtɝ/ (US) · /fɹˈeɪtɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/freighter
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a large ship or aircraft that carries goods instead of people.

For teachers: a vessel or aircraft designed primarily for the transport of bulk cargo rather than passengers.

## Examples

- The freighter arrived at the port carrying thousands of containers.
- Heavy machinery is usually transported across the ocean by freighter because it is too heavy for standard cargo planes.
- As the massive freighter navigated the narrow canal, its hull sat deep in the water under the weight of several thousand tons of industrial steel destined for the northern shipyards.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in both nautical and aviation contexts to distinguish cargo carriers from passenger vehicles.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.