noun
railroad
RAYL-rohd
noun
1
A track and system of transport using trains (American English).
"The railroad connected the two coasts for the first time in 1869."
verb
1
To force something through, or force someone into a decision, without proper process or consent.
"They accused the committee of railroading the vote through without debate."
How to Use Railroad
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe American word for a railway — or, informally, to push a decision or process through unfairly and without giving people a real say.
UK vs US
"Railroad" is the standard American English term; British English uses "railway" for the noun sense.
Common pairings
railroad tracks
railroad someone into something
Word Forms
railroaded past tense, railroads plural, railroads singular
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The _____ connected the two coasts for the first time in 1869.
Etymology
A compound of "rail" and "road."