Word
railroad
Phoneticsrail·road, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹeɪɫˌɹoʊd/
UK/ɹˈeɪlɹəʊd/
Definitions
01track and train system
A2 · Elementary Countable noun American English
n. a system of metal tracks and the trains that travel on them.
n. the permanent track of rails and the entire transportation system of vehicles and infrastructure associated with rail travel.
“The railroad runs right through the middle of the small town.”
“The expansion of the transcontinental railroad in the nineteenth century fundamentally altered the economic landscape of the western territories.”
Pitfall
I went to London by railroad.
I went to London by rail.
In British English, use 'railway' or 'rail'; 'railroad' is the standard term in American English.
02to force through
C1 · Advanced Informal
v. to force a person or a plan to move forward very quickly without giving people time to think.
v. to manipulate or hasten a procedure, such as a law or an agreement, by circumventing normal deliberation or due process.
“They tried to railroad the new rules through before anyone could complain.”
“The committee was accused of trying to railroad the legislation through the house without allowing for a public hearing or expert testimony.”
Usage
This is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, often a person or a piece of legislation.
Antonyms
03to convict unfairly
C2 · Proficiency Law Informal · American English
v. to make someone look guilty of a crime by using unfair methods.
v. to convict a person of a crime by circumventing due process or using false evidence.
“He claimed the police were trying to railroad him for a crime he didn't commit.”
“The defense attorney argued that the prosecution had railroaded his client by suppressing evidence that pointed to another suspect.”
Teaching tip
This sense is highly informal and implies a serious miscarriage of justice; it is common in crime dramas and legal thrillers.
Synonyms
Etymology
From rail + road.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/railroad