# wagon

/ˈwæɡən/ (US) · /wˈæɡən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wagon
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. horse-drawn vehicle

noun · CEFR A2

a strong vehicle with four wheels, usually pulled by horses, used for carrying heavy things.

For teachers: a heavy four-wheeled vehicle, typically horse-drawn, designed for the transport of goods or agricultural produce.

- The farmers loaded the hay onto the wooden wagon before the rain started.
- Historically, the heavy wagon served as the primary means of transporting freight across the rugged terrain of the frontier.

### 2. railway carriage

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a large vehicle used on a railway for carrying goods.

For teachers: a railway vehicle used for the conveyance of goods or minerals; in British English, specifically a freight car.

- The long train consisted of twenty wagons filled with coal.
- The logistics company requested additional railway wagons to accommodate the surge in industrial exports scheduled for the third quarter.

### 3. child's toy

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

a small vehicle with a long handle that a child can sit in or pull along.

For teachers: a child's four-wheeled toy vehicle with a handle for pulling and steering, often used for play or transporting small items.

- The boy pulled his little red wagon filled with sand across the park.
- The toddler spent the afternoon hauling his stuffed animals around the garden in a sturdy plastic wagon.

### 4. station wagon

noun · CEFR B1 · American English · Informal

a type of car with a long body and a large space behind the back seats.

For teachers: an automobile body style with a full-height rear cargo area and a rear door; often shortened to 'wagon'.

- We bought a wagon because we needed extra room for the dogs.
- Although SUVs have gained popularity, many families still prefer the handling and fuel efficiency of a traditional station wagon.

### 5. police van

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a police van used for taking prisoners to jail.

For teachers: a police vehicle designed for the transport of detainees or prisoners.

- The suspects were loaded into the wagon and driven to the station.
- Several police wagons were stationed at the perimeter of the protest to manage any potential arrests.

### 8. to transport

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

to carry goods in a wagon.

For teachers: to transport or convey goods by means of a wagon; takes a direct object.

- They spent the morning wagoning the harvested corn to the barn.
- The pioneers had to wagon all their earthly possessions across the mountain pass before the first snowfall.

## Examples

- The horses pulled the heavy wagon up the hill.
- Farmers loaded the wooden wagon with hay to prepare for the coming winter months.
- The pioneers packed their entire lives into a covered wagon, embarking on a perilous journey across the plains in search of fertile land.

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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.