# transportation

/ˌtɹænspɝˈteɪʃən/ (US) · /tɹænspɔːtˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. systems like buses and trains

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

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

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

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

### 3. historical punishment

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

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

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

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

## Examples

- Public transportation is very efficient in this city.
- The government is investing in better public transportation to reduce the number of cars on the road.
- Efficient urban planning relies on a multimodal transportation network that seamlessly integrates rail, bus, and cycling infrastructure to minimize congestion.

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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.