1
a
: the cubical content of a merchant ship in units of 100 cubic feet
b
: the displacement of a warship
2
a
: total weight in tons shipped, carried, or produced
b
: impressively large amount or weight
3
: a duty formerly levied on every tun of wine imported into England
4
a
: a duty or impost on vessels based on cargo capacity
b
: a duty on goods per ton transported
5
: ships in terms of the total number of tons registered or carried or of their carrying capacity
Examples of tonnage in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Space also continues to be an important factor in the yacht designs of the moment, with naval architects looking for more ways to add in extra gross tonnage without extending the overall length.
—
Katia Damborsky, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2025
So far, there has not been an increase in tonnage sent to Sylmar’s Sunshine Canyon, which accepts the most waste annually.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The region’s manufacturing dominance has contributed 56 percent of the global 12 percent year-on-year increase in tonnages in the first 10 months of 2024, according to analysis by WorldACD Market Data.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Dec. 2024
Excluding oil trade with Canada and Mexico, the tonnage of U.S. exports has been greater than the tonnage of imports since 2020.
—Ken Roberts, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
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Katia Damborsky, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2025
So far, there has not been an increase in tonnage sent to Sylmar’s Sunshine Canyon, which accepts the most waste annually.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The region’s manufacturing dominance has contributed 56 percent of the global 12 percent year-on-year increase in tonnages in the first 10 months of 2024, according to analysis by WorldACD Market Data.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Dec. 2024
Excluding oil trade with Canada and Mexico, the tonnage of U.S. exports has been greater than the tonnage of imports since 2020.
—Ken Roberts, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tonnage
Dictionary Entries Near tonnage
Cite this Entry
“Tonnage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonnage. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tonnage
noun
ton·nage
ˈtən-ij 
1
: a tax on ships based on tons carried
2
: ships in terms of the total number of tons that are or can be carried
3
: total weight in tons shipped, carried, or mined
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