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
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With a gross tonnage of 498 GT, the new flagship will cruise the seas powered by twin MAN 1,450 hp engines. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2025 The port of Duluth on Lake Superior moves the most tonnage to the Great Lakes. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 Because of Gonzaga’s presence in the new Pac-12 and the potential for tonnage (i.e., quantity) to play an important role for streaming companies, that number might prove to be slightly lower. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025 To accommodate four catapults, the ship will need to be larger than the Fujian, matching American tonnage and powered by a nuclear reactor. Matthew Bodner, NBC News, 2 Mar. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Tonnage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonnage. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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

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