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freighter

freighter

70 4.0
A large ship that carries goods between ports for sale
  • noun
  • /ˈfreɪtər/
: carguero
  • On February 20, 1935, Kazantzakis boarded the Japanese freighter, Kasima Maru, for Japan.
  • load a freighter

But it's not what you could call, you know, using this term that we see here an honest freighter, right?

Examples

  • They're sending a freighter to tow us back to base.

  • The freighter arrived at the port early in the morning, loaded with goods from overseas.

  • We can get freighter passage for the whole family.

  • Our freighter ships will enter Earth orbit tonight.

  • I came into port 2 days ago from New Zealand, on a freighter called Rangatira.

  • On Thursday, a freighter will deliver some cargo in Tolo Harbour.

  • My shipping company has a freighter docked in Newark.

  • Larrabee Shipping has bought nine more freighters to handle the traffic.

  • The air cargo market is strong, and orders for new jet engine-powered freighters are high.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The light station was built in 1910 to guide the giant steel ore freighters.

    Academic text (2007)

Synonyms

ship
vsfreighter
∞ 1.0

A large boat that carries people or goods across the sea

is specifically a commercial goods carrier rather than any large sea craft
vessel
vsfreighter
370 3.3

A large boat or ship used for travel on water

narrows that idea to commercial goods transport specifically
tanker
vsfreighter
65 3.5

A very large ship that carries oil in bulk

is more general, transporting goods of many types not only liquids
cargo ship
vsfreighter
31 3.0

A large ship that carries goods between ports

has the same commercial cargo function but is a slightly broader term
oil tanker
vsfreighter
  • Specialized
17 2.5

A very large ship that carries oil across oceans

is the general commercial goods transporter, not limited to fuels
merchant ship
vsfreighter
7 3.4

A ship that carries goods to sell

is the general commercial goods carrier term rather than a trade label
cargo vessel
vsfreighter
5 3.4

A ship that carries goods, often in containers

matches that purpose but is the more general everyday label
merchant vessel
vsfreighter
3 5.1

A ship that carries goods or passengers for business and is not part of a navy

focuses on the cargo role rather than broader commercial transport uses
merchantman
vsfreighter
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A ship that carries goods for trade, often between countries

is the general commercial carrier term not tied to international usage
container vessel
vsfreighter
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A large ship that carries many shipping containers across the sea

covers commercial goods carriers more generally, not only boxed cargoes
containership
vsfreighter
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A large ship that carries many shipping containers

is the general cargo carrier term not limited to boxed frames
cargo liner
vsfreighter
1 4.8

A large ship that carries goods on regular routes at set times

is broader, applying to commercial goods movement not tied to schedules
bottom
vsfreighter
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A ship, especially one used to carry goods

is the modern common word for that same commercial cargo concept
bulker
vsfreighter
  • Specialized
7.8

A large ship that carries loose goods like grain or coal

is broader, including many cargo types beyond loose bulk materials
car carrier
vsfreighter
3.0

A large ship built to move thousands of cars between countries

is the wider commercial goods carrier term not limited to vehicles

How Big

merchant marine
  • US
1 4.5
freighter
70 4.0
small boat
21 1.0

Surface Forms

freighter singular
freighters plural

Morphology

freighter = freight (transparent) = freight + er

This is a regular -er formation from 'freight', so the meaning 'a vessel that carries freight' is straightforward.

Etymology

The word freighter comes from freight, which means 'goods', plus the ending -er meaning 'one who does'. So a freighter is a ship or vehicle that carries goods, which is why the word now means a large ship used to move cargo.