Home › Travel & Culture › Travel Planning & Logistics › transit

transit

TRAN-sit /ˈtrænzɪt/

nounverbB2IELTSTOEFL

neutralformal

The carrying of people or goods from one place to another, or the act of passing through a place on the way to somewhere else.

Refers to the state of being in motion between two points, often involving public transportation systems or cargo shipping.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'transitus', meaning 'a passing over', from 'transire' (to go across), which combines 'trans-' (across) and 'ire' (to go). It originally referred to the passage of celestial bodies across the sky.

Word relationships

transportation: Transportation is the system or means of carrying things, while transit is the actual state or process of being moved.
passage: Passage is a more literary or general term for moving through a space, whereas transit is highly technical and logistical.

stagnation: Stagnation is the state of not moving or flowing, whereas transit is active movement.

Commonly confused with

transition: Transition is a change from one state or condition to another, while transit is physical movement from one place to another.

Word family

transitory (adjective): Not permanent; lasting only a short time.
transition (noun): The process of changing from one state to another.

Collocations

in transit
mass transit
transit system
transit visa

Example sentences

"Passengers in transit do not need to collect their luggage before boarding their connecting flight." An airport announcement
"The package is currently in transit and is expected to arrive by Tuesday afternoon." A shipping update

Memory hook

Think of a 'train sit'. You sit on a train while you are in transit across the country. Transit is travel in transition.

When not to use

Do not use to describe staying at a destination or taking a leisurely stroll.

Fun facts

In astronomy, a 'transit' occurs when a planet passes directly between a larger star and an observer, temporarily blocking a tiny bit of the star's light.