railroad

noun

(chiefly US, Philippines) A permanent track consisting of fixed metal rails to drive trains or similar motorized vehicles on.

(chiefly US) The transportation system comprising such tracks and vehicles fitted to travel on the rails, usually with several vehicles connected together in a train.

(chiefly US) A single, privately or publicly owned property comprising one or more such tracks and usually associated assets

(figuratively) A procedure conducted in haste without due consideration.

A borough in York County, Pennsylvania, United States, so-named for the Northern Central Railway.

A township in Starke County, Indiana, United States.

verb

(transitive) To transport via railroad.

(intransitive) To operate a railroad.

(intransitive) To work for a railroad.

(intransitive) To travel by railroad.

(intransitive) To engage in a hobby pertaining to railroads.

(transitive) To manipulate and hasten a procedure, as of formal approval of a law or resolution.

(transitive) To convict of a crime by circumventing due process.

(transitive) To procedurally bully someone into an unfair agreement.

(roleplaying games) To force players to follow the dungeon master's planned plot rather than improvise an alternative story.

(upholstery) To run fabric horizontally instead of the usual vertically.

Roots

regularail- · Latin · straight bar, rule radroad- · Old English · riding, journey, way

Synonyms for railroad

railwayn railn tramn roadbedn tramlinen monorailn subwayn trestlen terminusn roadwayn

Synonyms & related words for railroad

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of railroad — including railway, rail, tram, roadbed, tramline, monorail. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to railroad

Explore words related to railroad — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include railwayman, trainman, trains, interurban, locomotive, tramways, trackage, brakesman. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for railroad

Common synonyms for railroad include railway, rail, tram, roadbed, tramline, monorail, subway, trestle — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does railroad come from?

The word railroad breaks down into 2 roots of Latin and Old English origin: rail, from Latin regula (“straight bar, rule”); and road, from Old English rad (“riding, journey, way”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.