noun
Uncommon
mileage
MEYE-luhj
Mileage (noun) means the total distance a vehicle has travelled, usually measured in miles. Example: “The used car had surprisingly low mileage for its age.”
noun
1
The total distance a vehicle has travelled, usually measured in miles.
"The used car had surprisingly low mileage for its age."
2
The distance a vehicle can travel per unit of fuel; fuel efficiency.
"The hybrid gets much better mileage than their old car."
3
The practical use or benefit that can be gotten from something.
"We got a lot of mileage out of that one marketing campaign."
"There's no more mileage left in that old excuse."
How to use mileage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow far a vehicle has travelled or can travel on fuel, or, figuratively, how much use or value you can squeeze out of something.
Common pairings
high mileage
good mileage
get mileage out of
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Word forms
- Plural
- mileages
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The used car had surprisingly low _____ for its age.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for mileage
See all rhymes for mileage →Frequently asked questions
What does “mileage” mean?
The word “mileage” means the total distance a vehicle has travelled, usually measured in miles. In plain terms, how far a vehicle has travelled or can travel on fuel, or, figuratively, how much use or value you can squeeze out of something.
How do you pronounce “mileage”?
“Mileage” is pronounced MEYE-luhj (/ˈmaɪləd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mileage” in a sentence?
Here is “mileage” used in a sentence: “The used car had surprisingly low mileage for its age.”
What part of speech is “mileage”?
“Mileage” is a noun.
Is “mileage” a common word?
“Mileage” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mileage” have?
“Mileage” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the total distance a vehicle has travelled, usually measured in miles.
What is the difference between mileage and fuel economy?
"Mileage" can refer either to the total distance a vehicle has travelled or to how far it can go per unit of fuel, while "fuel economy" specifically refers to that second, efficiency-based sense. Context usually makes clear which meaning is intended.
What does it mean to "get mileage" out of something?
This figurative use of mileage means getting practical use, benefit, or value from something, as in getting mileage out of an old idea or a piece of equipment. It extends the literal sense of distance travelled to broader usefulness.
Is "mileage" only used for vehicles measured in miles?
Despite its root in the word "mile," mileage is used loosely to describe distance travelled or fuel efficiency even in countries that measure in kilometres.
