# steamship

/ˈstimˌʃɪp/ (US) · /stˈiːmʃɪp/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

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

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The steamship crossed the Atlantic in record time.
- Before the invention of modern jet engines, the steamship was the primary way for immigrants to travel to the Americas.
- 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.

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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.