Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense freights, present participle freighting, past tense, past participle freighted
1. uncountable noun
Freight is the movement of goods by lorries, trains, ships, or aeroplanes.
France derives 16% of revenue from air freight.
Synonyms: transportation, traffic, delivery, carriage More Synonyms of freight
2. uncountable noun
Freight is goods that are transported by lorries, trains, ships, or aeroplanes.
...26 tons of freight.
90% of managers wanted to see more freight carried by rail.
3. verb [usually passive]
When goods are freighted, they are transported in large quantities over a long distance.
From these ports the grain is freighted down to Addis Ababa. [beVERB-ed adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: transport, carry, ship, deliver More Synonyms of freight
More Synonyms of freight
freight in British English
(freɪt)
noun
1.
a.
commercial transport that is slower and cheaper than express
b.
the price charged for such transport
c.
goods transported by this means
d.
(as modifier)
freight transport
2. mainly British
a ship's cargo or part of it
verb(transitive)
3.
to load with goods for transport
4. mainly US and Canadian
to convey commercially as or by freight
5.
to load or burden; charge
Derived forms
freightless (ˈfreightless)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Middle Dutch vrecht; related to French fret, Spanish flete, Portuguese frete
freight in American English
(freɪt)
noun
1.
a method or service for transporting goods, esp. bulky goods, by water, land, or air: freight is usually cheaper but slower than express
2.
the cost for such transportation
3.
the goods transported; lading; cargo
4. US
freight train
5.
any load or burden
verb transitive
6.
to load with freight
7.
to load; burden
8.
to transport as or send by freight
Word origin
ME freit, fraught < MDu vracht: see fraught
Examples of 'freight' in a sentence
freight
Ministers have talked about the benefits of rail freight as a means of cutting motorway traffic.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That £500,000 of predicted savings will come as a result of switching from air freight to sea freight.
Computing (2010)
The rail freight sector has also shown the benefits of competition.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We are promised a new rigour in air freight security.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She played the boss of an air freight business.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Product was coming off the production line and being put on air freight.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It would not need to carry freight.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
His best performances carry a freight of personal history and unexpected fury.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Differences in skin color carry a freight of political and social problems in human societies.
Wills, Christopher The Runaway Brain: the Evolution of Human Uniqueness (1993)
The rail network is struggling to meet passenger demand and is in poor shape to carry more freight.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Air freight is simply too expensive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Air freight business has also collapsed.
The Sun (2009)
The move comes as property companies scramble to control freight and transport hubs across Europe.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Another involves a passenger train that can carry freight at off-peak periods.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The day of action followed a French strike last week over moves to change working hours for freight rail workers.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The Mayor thinks there could be compelling reasons for landing air freight at an airport close to the new sea port.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Off the rails Freight trains with seemingly endless numbers of carriages will continue to rumble past on the rail line that skirts the course.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This group specialises in freight transport and logistics throughout Britain and Ireland.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Government grants towards rail freight facilities have halved since 2001 to 23 million a year.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Running along a disused railway line for 1.45 miles, it was originally designed to carry freight from the docks.
The Sun (2015)
International insurers will be hit by bills for properties, cars, fire damage and the loss of ships and their freight.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
NEARLY 4million worth of cocaine was found hidden in suitcases on a freight ship bound for Britain.
The Sun (2014)
The deal comes amid mounting interest in European freight and transport hubs, driven by the rise of internet shopping and hopes of economic recovery.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
freight
British English: freight /freɪt/ NOUN
Freight is the movement of goods by lorries, trains, ships, or aeroplanes.
The whole thing will have to go by air freight.
American English: freight
Arabic: شَحْن
Brazilian Portuguese: frete
Chinese: 货物
Croatian: promet
Czech: nákladní doprava
Danish: fragt
Dutch: vracht
European Spanish: porte
Finnish: rahti
French: fret
German: Fracht
Greek: φορτίο
Italian: carico
Japanese: 貨物輸送
Korean: 화물
Norwegian: frakt
Polish: ładunek
European Portuguese: frete
Romanian: transport de marfă
Russian: перевозка грузов
Latin American Spanish: flete
Swedish: frakt
Thai: การขนส่งสินค้า
Turkish: nakliye
Ukrainian: фрахт
Vietnamese: sự chuyên chở
All related terms of 'freight'
air freight
freight transported by aircraft
freight car
On a train, a freight car is a large container in which goods are transported.
freight-in
Freight-in is the cost of having goods or materials delivered to a business for manufacture or resale .
freight-out
Freight-out is the cost of delivering finished goods to a customer .
freight ton
→ ton 1 (sense 5 )
freight agent
a person who acts on behalf of others in arranging for freight to be transported
freight depot
(on a rail network) a place where freight is stored while awaiting onward transport
freight house
a depot where freight is received and stored
freight note
a document containing full particulars of goods shipped or for shipment
freight plane
an aeroplane used to transport goods
freight train
A freight train is a train on which goods are transported.
freight yard
a place on a rail network where freight trains are made up or broken up
freight charges
the price charged for conveying goods by freight
freight engine
a locomotive for pulling freight trains, designed for high drawbar pull rather than high speed
freight forwarder
a person, agency , or enterprise engaged in the collection, shipment , or delivery of goods
freight insurance
insurance paid on goods in transport
freight terminal
(on a rail network ) a place where freight is stored while awaiting onward transport
freight pass-through
a special allowance or discounted price given a bookseller or bookstore by a publishing house for paying the freight charge on a shipment of books ordered: so called because the shipping charge is passed on to the consumer by an increase in the suggested retail price for each book
ton
A ton is a unit of weight that is equal to 2240 pounds in Britain and to 2000 pounds in the United States .
air cargo
freight transported by aircraft
c & f
cost and freight
fob
In former times, a fob was a short chain or piece of cloth which used to fasten a watch to someone's clothing.
displacement ton
a unit of weight equal to 2240 pounds or 1016.046909 kilograms
long ton
a unit of weight equal to 2240 pounds or 1016.046909 kilograms
shipping ton
a unit of weight equal to 2240 pounds or 1016.046909 kilograms
short ton
a unit of weight equal to 2240 pounds or 1016.046909 kilograms
st
st is used as a written abbreviation for → stone when you are mentioning someone's weight.
c.i.f.
cost , insurance , and freight (included in the price quoted )
Chinese translation of 'freight'
freight
(freɪt)
n(u)
(= goods) 货(貨)物 (huòwù)
by air/sea freight通过(過)空/海运(運) (tōngguò kōng/hǎiyùn)
1 (noun)
Definition
commercial transport of goods
France derives 16% of revenue from air freight.
Synonyms
transportation
traffic
The ferries can cope with the traffic of goods and passengers.
delivery
the delivery of goods and resources
carriage
It costs £10.86 for one litre, including carriage.
shipment
haulage
conveyance
the conveyance of bicycles on local trains
transport
Safety rules had been breached during transport of radioactive fuel.
2 (noun)
Definition
a ship's cargo or part of it
26 tonnes of freight
Synonyms
cargo
The boat calls at the main port to load its cargo of bananas.
goods
contents
load
He drove by with a big load of hay.
lading
delivery
a delivery of fresh eggs
burden
haul
bulk
shipment
merchandise
bales
consignment
The first consignment of food has already left Bologna.
payload
tonnage
(verb)
Definition
to transport (goods) by freight
The grain is freighted down to Addis Ababa.
Synonyms
transport
There's no petrol so it's difficult to transport goods.
carry
He carried the plate through to the dining room.
ship
Food is being shipped to drought-stricken countries.
deliver
The pizza will be delivered in 20 minutes.
convey
They borrowed our boats to convey themselves across the river.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of burden
Synonyms
tonnage,
lading,
cargo,
freight
in the sense of carriage
Definition
the charge made for conveying goods
It costs £10.86 for one litre, including carriage.
Synonyms
transportation,
transport,
delivery,
conveying,
freight,
conveyance,
carrying
in the sense of carry
Definition
to take from one place to another
He carried the plate through to the dining room.
Synonyms
convey,
take,
move,
bring,
bear,
lift,
transfer,
conduct,
transport,
haul,
transmit,
fetch,
relay,
cart,
tote (informal),
hump (British, slang),
lug
Synonyms of 'freight'
freight
Explore 'freight' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of consignment
Definition
a shipment of goods
The first consignment of food has already left Bologna.
Synonyms
shipment,
delivery,
batch,
goods
in the sense of convey
Definition
to carry or transport from one place to another
They borrowed our boats to convey themselves across the river.
Synonyms
carry,
transport,
move,
bring,
support,
bear,
conduct,
transmit,
fetch
in the sense of conveyance
Definition
the act of conveying
the conveyance of bicycles on local trains
Synonyms
transportation,
movement,
transfer,
transport,
transmission,
carriage,
transference
in the sense of deliver
Definition
to carry (goods or mail) to a destination
The pizza will be delivered in 20 minutes.
Synonyms
bring,
take,
carry,
bear,
transport,
distribute,
convey,
cart
in the sense of delivery
Definition
the act of delivering goods or mail
the delivery of goods and resources
Synonyms
handing over,
transfer,
distribution,
transmission,
dispatch,
consignment,
conveyance,
transmittal
in the sense of delivery
Definition
something that is delivered
a delivery of fresh eggs
Synonyms
consignment,
goods,
shipment,
batch
in the sense of load
Definition
the amount borne or conveyed
He drove by with a big load of hay.
Synonyms
cargo,
lading,
delivery,
haul,
shipment,
batch,
freight,
bale,
consignment
in the sense of ship
Definition
to send or transport by any carrier, esp. a ship
Food is being shipped to drought-stricken countries.
Synonyms
send,
take,
run,
bring,
carry,
bear,
transfer,
ferry,
convey
in the sense of traffic
Definition
the movement of vehicles or people in a particular place or for a particular purpose
The ferries can cope with the traffic of goods and passengers.