bullet train

noun

: a high-speed passenger train especially of Japan

Examples of bullet train in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains were modeled after the streamlined beak of the kingfisher to reduce noise and improve efficiency. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2025

Japan’s high-speed bullet trains are famous for speeding across the country—but China wants to set a new world record for the fastest electric passenger rail. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2025

The network includes bullet trains that can run up to 350 km/h (about 217.5 mph), and the country is researching how to build a train that can run as fast as 450 km/h (about 279.6 mph). —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Trump seems even more determined to derail California’s bullet train. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bullet train

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• gethsemane
• halothane
• hurricane

Kids Definition

bullet train

noun

: a very high-speed passenger train