# mileage

/ˈmaɪɫədʒ/ (US) · /mˈaɪlɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mileage
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. distance traveled

noun · CEFR B1

the total number of miles a vehicle has traveled.

For teachers: the cumulative distance traveled by a vehicle, typically recorded on an odometer.

- The car is ten years old but it has very low mileage.
- The high mileage on the engine suggests that the previous owner used the vehicle for long-distance commuting rather than city driving.

### 2. fuel efficiency

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

how many miles a vehicle can travel using a specific amount of fuel.

For teachers: the distance a vehicle can travel per unit of fuel consumed.

- I bought a smaller car because I wanted to get better mileage.
- Hybrid vehicles typically offer superior gas mileage in stop-and-go city traffic compared to traditional internal combustion engines.

Usage: often used with 'good' or 'bad'

Teaching tip: In British English, 'fuel consumption' or 'miles per gallon' is more common for this specific meaning.

### 3. travel allowance

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

money paid to someone for the miles they drive for work.

For teachers: a fixed rate of compensation paid to an employee for travel expenses incurred using a personal vehicle.

- The company pays a standard mileage rate for all business trips.
- Employees are required to submit a detailed log of their journeys to claim mileage at the end of each fiscal month.

### 4. usefulness or benefit

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the amount of use or advantage you can get from something.

For teachers: the metaphorical utility, advantage, or service derived from an object, idea, or situation.

- She got a lot of mileage out of that one black dress by wearing it to every party.
- The political campaign managed to get considerable mileage out of a single gaffe made by their opponent during the televised debate.

Usage: often used in the phrase 'get a lot of mileage out of'

## Examples

- The car is old but it has very low mileage.
- I managed to get a lot of mileage out of that old suit by wearing it to several different weddings.
- The political analyst suggested that the candidate had already gotten all the mileage possible out of that specific campaign promise and needed a fresh platform.

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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.