English Reference
noun

transportation

n.
US /ˌtɹænspɝˈteɪʃən/ UK /tɹænspɔːtˈeɪʃən/ trans·porta·tion

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate American English

    a system or method for moving people, such as public buses, trains, or cars.

    the means or infrastructure used for travel, including public and private vehicles.

    Simple

    The city has excellent public transportation, so you don't really need a car.

    In context

    Urban planners are focusing on sustainable transportation to reduce the city's carbon footprint and alleviate traffic congestion.

    Usage

    Often used with 'public' to describe government-run systems.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency ArchaicFormal Law

    an old punishment where a prisoner was sent away to a far-off colony.

    the historical practice of deporting convicted criminals to a penal colony.

    Simple

    In the 1800s, some crimes were punished by transportation to Australia.

    In context

    The judge sentenced the prisoner to life-long transportation, a common sentence for serious felonies in the early nineteenth century.

    Usage

    Usually refers to the 18th and 19th-century British legal system.

Usage transportation system

If your new flight departs the following day or later, accommodation and transportation between the airport and the hotel must also be provided.

The Local· 14 Aug 2026

When the UK left the European Union in 2020, zoos in this country were not able to use EU agreements which were in place, for the transportation of animals between European countries.

BBC News· 13 Aug 2026

From transport + -ation.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated