: a permanent road having a line of rails fixed to ties and laid on a roadbed and providing a track for cars or equipment drawn by locomotives or propelled by self-contained motors
also
: such a road and its assets constituting a single property
railroaded; railroading; railroads
1
a
: to convict with undue haste and by means of false charges or insufficient evidence
b
: to push through hastily or without due consideration
2
: to transport by railroad
: to work for a railroad company
railroader
noun
Synonyms
Examples of railroad in a Sentence
Noun
that railroad hasn't been used for passenger trains for decades
Verb
a controversial law that is being railroaded through Congress
a bill that was railroaded into law
They claim she was railroaded.
Recent Examples on the Web
Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2024
At the time, the railroad industry warned the economy would suffer damage of $2 billion per day; other industry groups warned of a direct hit to GDP and inflation spike.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2024
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
George is less known in the railroading community but earned admiration from some shareholders during the proxy fight for his candor and command of the situation, said one Norfolk Southern advisor.
—Rohan Goswami, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for railroad 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Berkshire owns an assortment of insurance businesses, including Geico, along with BNSF railroad, several major utilities and a varied collection of retail and manufacturing businesses, including brands like Dairy Queen and See’s Candy.
—Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2024
At the time, the railroad industry warned the economy would suffer damage of $2 billion per day; other industry groups warned of a direct hit to GDP and inflation spike.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
Seeking a new contract from Class I railroads Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), the union alleged that workers’ charter rights were violated and that imposing arbitration strips them of their right to collective bargaining.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
George is less known in the railroading community but earned admiration from some shareholders during the proxy fight for his candor and command of the situation, said one Norfolk Southern advisor.
—Rohan Goswami, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for railroad
Articles Related to railroad
Dictionary Entries Near railroad
Cite this Entry
“Railroad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/railroad. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
railroad
1 of 2 noun
rail·road
ˈrā(ə)l-ˌrōd 
1
: a permanent road that has parallel steel rails which make a track for cars
2
: a railroad together with the lands, buildings, locomotives, cars, and other equipment that belong to it
railroad
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to send by railroad
b
: to work on a railroad
2
a
: to push (as a bill) through a legislature in a rush
b
: to convict and send to prison without much evidence or by means of false charges
railroader
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share