tonnage

noun

ton·​nage ˈtə-nij 

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

With a nearly 30-foot beam and a gross tonnage of 499 GT, the superyacht offers up some powerful muscle below deck. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 19 Feb. 2025

Though Japan publicly called for a 10-10-7 ratio of ship tonnage for the U.S., Britain and Japan, respectively, decryptions indicated that Tokyo was willing to settle for a 5-5-3 ratio. —Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025

Depending on seniority, skill rate, hazard pay, overtime differential, plus tonnage bonus (which can be anywhere between $15,000-$20,000 a year), a longshoreman can make between $150,000-$250,000 annually. —Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

in sense 3, from Middle English, from Anglo-French, from tonne tun; in other senses, from ton entry 1 — more at tunnel

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for tonnage

• dunnage

Kids 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