tonnage

noun

ton·​nage ˈtə-nij How to pronounce tonnage (audio)
1
a
: the cubical content of a merchant ship in units of 100 cubic feet
b
: the displacement of a warship
2
a
: total weight in tons shipped, carried, or produced
b
: impressively large amount or weight
3
: a duty formerly levied on every tun of wine imported into England
4
a
: a duty or impost on vessels based on cargo capacity
b
: a duty on goods per ton transported
5
: ships in terms of the total number of tons registered or carried or of their carrying capacity

Examples of tonnage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
By my estimation, Rayne Beau is quickly approaching breakdancer Raygun and pop star Chappell Roan in sheer tonnage of 2024 Internet writing. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 1 Oct. 2024 Old Dominion Freight Line — Shares dropped 4.9% after Old Dominion Freight Line year-over-year daily revenue slumped 5.2% in August as less-than-truckload tonnage fell 6.1%. Sarah Min, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2024 By 2021, that tonnage had skyrocketed to 231,072 — a 47% jump. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2024 Anyway, the post spawned an impressive tonnage of media coverage. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tonnage 

Word History

Etymology

in sense 3, from Middle English, from Anglo-French, from tonne tun; in other senses, from ton entry 1 — more at tunnel

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of tonnage was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tonnage

Cite this Entry

“Tonnage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonnage. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tonnage

noun
ton·​nage ˈtən-ij How to pronounce tonnage (audio)
1
: a tax on ships based on tons carried
2
: ships in terms of the total number of tons that are or can be carried
3
: total weight in tons shipped, carried, or mined

More from Merriam-Webster on tonnage

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