mass transit

noun

chiefly US
: the transportation of large numbers of people by means of buses, subway trains, etc., especially within urban areas
also : the system, vehicles, or facilities engaged in such transportation
I rode mass transit—first the bus, then Metro—for nearly two decades. Fred Barnes

Examples of mass transit 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.
Other anti-housing development actions include disallowing duplexes and lot subdivisions after wildfires and fighting a new state law to increase housing density around mass transit hubs, saying the state shouldn’t override local control. Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Crime and fear of crime also discourage some people from mass transit, despite transit being safer than driving a car. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025 These 10 guiding principles have been the lens by which the chamber has evaluated mass transit proposals, including House Bill 3438. Lou Sandoval, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025 Two years ago, public hearings on the 2023 package of reforms were dominated by debate over a proposal to soften rules allowing taller apartment buildings and more backyard units when a property is near mass transit. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mass transit

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mass transit was in 1930

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Cite this Entry

“Mass transit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mass%20transit. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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