1
: a railroad car
2
: a self-propelled railroad car

Examples of railcar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In an area of the Mojave Desert, cargo thefts are a pervasive problem, with thieves boarding slow-moving freight trains to steal high-value merchandise, sometimes slashing an air brake hose to bring the railcars to an emergency stop. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 Lower net gains in trading activities, lower lease income after the sale of its railcar-leasing business , and lower gains from equity securities weighed on the result. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 For now, the central test is whether autonomous electric railcars can move from supervised pilots to dependable commercial service across existing rail networks. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026 Previously, Cox served as CIO at railcar products and services provider Trinity Industries. — John Kell, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for railcar

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of railcar was in 1833

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Cite this Entry

“Railcar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/railcar. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a railroad car
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