# railroad

/ˈɹeɪɫˌɹoʊd/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪlɹəʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/railroad
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. transport system

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

the whole system of trains, tracks, and the companies that manage them.

For teachers: the entire infrastructure, rolling stock, and organizational system of rail transport.

- The railroad was the main way people traveled across the country in the 1800s.
- The expansion of the transcontinental railroad fundamentally altered the economic landscape of the nineteenth-century United States.

### 3. to rush or force

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to force someone to do something or accept a decision without giving them enough time to think.

For teachers: to push a person or a process through with undue haste, often bypassing fair procedures or deliberation.

- I felt like the salesman was trying to railroad me into buying the car today.
- The committee was accused of trying to railroad the new legislation through before the public had a chance to voice their concerns.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

Teaching tip: Often used in political or legal contexts to describe unfair treatment.

### 4. to falsely convict

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to send someone to prison for a crime they did not commit by using unfair methods.

For teachers: to convict a person of a crime through the circumvention of due process or the use of false evidence.

- The prisoner claimed he had been railroaded by a corrupt police department.
- Defense attorneys argued that their client had been railroaded by a system more interested in a quick conviction than in finding the truth.

Usage: Usually used in the passive voice.

Teaching tip: This is a very strong accusation of legal corruption.

## Examples

- The railroad runs right through the center of the town.
- The expansion of the railroad in the nineteenth century transformed how goods were moved across the continent.
- Historians often argue that the development of a national railroad was the primary catalyst for the rapid industrialisation and urban growth seen during that era.

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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.