Freight — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈfrāt/

Meaning & Definition of Freight

Freight (noun)

  1. the compensation paid for the transportation of goods
  2. cost
  3. goods to be shipped, cargo

Freight (verb)

  1. to load with goods for transportation
  2. burden, charge
  3. to transport or ship by freight

Freight (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported

    "shipped a large freight of steel to the manufacturer"

    similar: burden, cargo, draft, haul, lading, load, loading, payload, weight
    related: consignment, boatload, carload, shipload, trainload, truckload, wagonload, ballast, deadweight, overload, surcharge, bale, bundle, pack, package, packet, parcel, shipment, manifest, body, bulk, mass

  2. the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something

    "it's all very well to suggest increased government services, but who will pay the freight for them?"

    similar: ante, charge, cost, damage, fee, figure, price, price tag
    related: fair market value, market value, valuation, value, asking price, list price, sticker price, price point, rate, tariff, unit price, carrying charge, overcharge, service charge, surcharge, deduction, discount, markdown, reduction, sale, deposit, down payment, account, bill, check, invoice, tab

Freight (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to place a weight or burden on

    "it took six hours to freight the cargo airplane"

    similar: burden, encumber, lade, laden, load, lumber, saddle, weight
    related: clog, clutter, fill, pack, heap, mound, pile, stack, press, weigh, strain, tax, overburden, overload, overtax, surcharge, hamper, handicap, afflict, oppress
    opposite: disburden, discharge, disencumber, unburden, unlade, unload
    near: alleviate, ease, lighten, relieve

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Freight

The most common words with a similar meaning to Freight:

burden, cargo, draft, haul, lading, load, loading, payload, weight, ante, charge, cost, damage, fee, figure, price, price tag, encumber, lade, laden, lumber, saddle

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Freight

Words with the opposite meaning of Freight:

disburden, discharge, disencumber, unburden, unlade, unload

Related Words for Freight

consignment, boatload, carload, shipload, trainload, truckload, wagonload, ballast, deadweight, overload, surcharge, bale, bundle, pack, package, packet, parcel, shipment, manifest, body, bulk, mass, fair market value, market value, valuation, value, asking price, list price, sticker price, price point

Near Antonyms of Freight

alleviate, ease, lighten, relieve

Word Forms of Freight

Inflections: freighted, freighting, freights

Origin & Etymology of Freight

Middle English freghte, freight, freyte, freythe "transport of goods, charge for transportation, cargo of a ship," borrowed from Middle Dutch vrecht "cargo, charge for transport," going back to West Germanic *fraihti-, probably "what is given over or consigned to someone" (whence also Old Frisian fracht, frecht "charge for freight," Middle Low German vracht [vrecht- in vrechtman "consigner of a cargo"], Old High German frêht "reward, recompense") from *fra- "away, off" (going back to Indo-European *pro-) + Germanic *aihti- "property, possession" (whence Old English ǣht "possession, [in plural] property, goods," Old Saxon ēht "property," Old Icelandic ætt, átt "kindred, pedigree," Gothic aihtins [accusative plural] "property"), derivative, with the abstract noun suffix *-ti-, from the base of *aigan "to possess" for:1, owe

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Freight

freight car, freight train, pay the freight

Frequently Asked Questions about Freight

What does "Freight" mean?

"Freight" means the compensation paid for the transportation of goods. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the compensation paid for the transportation of goods. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Freight"?

Other words for "Freight" include burden, cargo, draft, haul, lading, load, loading and payload. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Freight" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Freight"?

There are 87 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Freight". Common alternatives include burden, cargo, draft, haul, lading, load, loading, payload, weight and ante.

What is the opposite of "Freight"?

Antonyms of "Freight" include disburden, discharge, disencumber, unburden, unlade and unload. Near antonyms include alleviate, ease, lighten and relieve.

How do you use "Freight" in a sentence?

Examples of "Freight" in a sentence: "shipped a large freight of steel to the manufacturer"; "it's all very well to suggest increased government services, but who will pay the freight for them?"; "it took six hours to freight the cargo airplane".

Is "Freight" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Freight" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Freight"?

"Freight" is pronounced /ˈfrāt/.

What is the origin of the word "Freight"?

"Freight" comes from Middle English freghte, freight, freyte, freythe "transport of goods, charge for transportation, cargo of a ship," borrowed from Middle Dutch vrecht "cargo, charge for transport," going back to West Germanic *fraihti-, probably "what is given over or consigned to someone" (whence also Old Frisian fracht, frecht "charge for freight," Middle Low German vracht [vrecht- in vrechtman "consigner of a cargo"], Old High German frêht "reward, recompense") from *fra- "away, off" (going back to Indo-European *pro-) + Germanic *aihti- "property, possession" (whence Old English ǣht "possession, [in plural] property, goods," Old Saxon ēht "property," Old Icelandic ætt, átt "kindred, pedigree," Gothic aihtins [accusative plural] "property"), derivative, with the abstract noun suffix *-ti-, from the base of *aigan "to possess" for:1, owe. First known use: 15th century.