shipping

The word “shipping” means the business or process of transporting goods. In plain terms, sending goods, the cost of doing so, or ships as a group.

“Shipping” is pronounced SHIH-pihng (/ˈʃɪpɪŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “shipping” used in a sentence: “Shipping delays pushed the delivery back a week.”

“Shipping” is a noun.

The word “shipping” comes from Middle English. From ship plus -ing, originally meaning "to take ship" or "to equip a vessel" in Old and Middle English.

“Shipping” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Shipping” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the business or process of transporting goods.

Shipping is the business or process of transporting goods from one place to another, whether by sea, air, road, or rail. Despite its link to ships, the word covers any method of moving cargo — from a small parcel sent to your door to freight carried across oceans.

Shipping is the whole process of preparing and sending goods and moving them toward the customer. Delivery is the final step — the goods arriving at their destination. Shipping begins when an order leaves the seller; delivery is the moment it reaches the buyer's hands.

Shipping is often grouped by speed and by method. By timing there is standard, expedited, and overnight; by transport mode there is sea, air, rail, and road freight. There is also domestic versus international shipping, plus options like courier, parcel, and freight services depending on the size and urgency of the goods.

Shipping is the general process of transporting goods of any size. Freight usually refers to larger, bulk commercial cargo and to the charge for moving it. All freight is shipped, but an everyday parcel is shipping without being called freight. Freight tends to mean heavier loads moved in bulk.