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
In May 2023, the total cargo tonnage was 142.9 million metric tons.
—
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 18 June 2024
The new tonnage of streaming inventory is crimping the companies’ ability to monetize advertising on them further.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 June 2024
Since the Key Bridge was built 48 years ago, cargo ships have more than quadrupled in tonnage, experts say.
—Hayes Gardner, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2024
Import and export monthly tonnage for public terminals has nearly doubled since 1998.
—Annie Jennemann, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tonnage 
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 18 June 2024
The new tonnage of streaming inventory is crimping the companies’ ability to monetize advertising on them further.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 June 2024
Since the Key Bridge was built 48 years ago, cargo ships have more than quadrupled in tonnage, experts say.
—Hayes Gardner, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2024
Import and export monthly tonnage for public terminals has nearly doubled since 1998.
—Annie Jennemann, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tonnage
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tonnage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tonnage
Cite this Entry
“Tonnage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonnage. Accessed 28 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tonnage
noun
ton·nage
ˈtən-ij 
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
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