English Reference
Noun

steamship

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈstimˌʃɪp/ UK /stˈiːmʃɪp/ steamship UK spelling steamship's, steamship's

n.a large ship that moves using power from a steam engine. These were very common in the 1800s and early 1900s for carrying people and goods across the ocean.

n.a large vessel propelled by a steam engine, typically driving a paddle wheel or propeller. Historically significant for enabling reliable transoceanic travel regardless of wind conditions.


SIMPLE

The steamship crossed the Atlantic in record time.

CONTEXTUAL

Before the invention of modern jet engines, the steamship was the primary way for immigrants to travel to the Americas.

COMPLEX

The transition from sail to the steamship revolutionized global trade by allowing merchants to maintain strict delivery schedules that were previously impossible due to unpredictable weather patterns.

At the time, steamships and the printing press enabled people and ideas to travel farther and faster across the globe than ever before.

The Conversation· 11 Aug 2026

The last recorded images of the children date to May 1918, when they were photographed on board the steamship transporting them to the city.

Smithsonian Magazine· 16 Jul 2026

From steam + ship.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated