transit
TRAN-ziht
Transit (noun) means the act or process of passing through or across a place. Example: “The parcel was lost somewhere in transit between the warehouse and our village.”
noun
1
The act or process of passing through or across a place.
"The parcel was lost somewhere in transit between the warehouse and our village."
"The goods were damaged in transit."
"Passengers can rest in the transit lounge between flights."
2
A system of public transportation, or the vehicles used in it.
"I take public transit to work because parking in the centre is so expensive."
"Cheap, frequent transit makes it easy for students to get around town."
"The city invested heavily in public transit."
verb
1
To pass over, across, or through something.
"Ships must transit the narrow canal slowly to avoid hitting the banks."
"Migrating birds transit the valley each autumn on their way south."
"The comet will transit the sun's disk next week."
How to use transit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe act of travelling through or across, or a public transport system.
Common pairings
in transit
public transit
transit system
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Word forms
- Plural
- transits
- Third person singular
- transits
- Past tense
- transited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The parcel was lost somewhere in _____ between the warehouse and our village.
Etymology
From French, ultimately from Latin "transire" — "trans-" ("across") plus "ire" ("to go").
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “transit” mean?
The word “transit” means the act or process of passing through or across a place. In plain terms, the act of travelling through or across, or a public transport system.
How do you pronounce “transit”?
“Transit” is pronounced TRAN-ziht (/ˈtɹæn.zɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “transit” in a sentence?
Here is “transit” used in a sentence: “The goods were damaged in transit.”
What part of speech is “transit”?
Depending on how it is used, “transit” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “transit” come from?
The word “transit” comes from Latin. From French, ultimately from Latin "transire" — "trans-" ("across") plus "ire" ("to go").
Is “transit” a common word?
“Transit” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “transit” have?
“Transit” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act or process of passing through or across a place.
What is the difference between "transit" and "transport"?
"Transit" refers to the act of passing through or across a place, or to a public transport system itself, especially in North American usage. "Transport" more generally means the moving of people or goods and the means of doing so; "in transit" describes goods on the way, while "public transit" names the system that carries passengers.
What is the difference between "transit" and "transitional"?
"Transit" is a noun about passing through a place or a public transport system, as in "mass transit" or "in transit." "Transitional" is an adjective meaning relating to a change from one state to another, as in "a transitional period," so the two are not interchangeable.
What is "mass transit"?
"Mass transit" is a fixed phrase for public transport systems that move large numbers of people, such as buses, subways, and trains. It draws on the sense of "transit" as a system of public transportation and the vehicles used in it.
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