What does importation mean?
Importation is the formal word for the process of bringing goods into a country from abroad, and it can also denote the goods brought in as a group. The term appears especially in government, legal, customs, and trade contexts, where precision is important. For example, a government may discuss the importation of food, machinery, or raw materials, while a customs notice may regulate the importation of particular products. Because it describes a process or a collective category rather than a single object, “importation” often appears with phrases such as “importation of goods” and “importation duties.” In ordinary American English, people more often use the shorter “import,” but “importation” remains common in British English and in formal international-trade writing.
nounThe act of bringing goods or commodities into a country from abroad. It can also refer collectively to the goods or commodities that have been imported.
- The act or process of importing goods from another country.
- Goods collectively brought into a country from abroad.
"The new regulations restrict the importation of certain agricultural products."
"The importation of fruit is subject to strict health regulations."
"The port handles the importation of timber from several northern countries."
Used when referring to multiple acts, processes, or separate categories of imported goods.
"The two importations were held for inspection by customs officials."
A country’s importation tells the story of what it chooses to bring in—and what it chooses to make at home instead.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does importation come from?
“Importation” was formed in English by adding the suffix “-ation” to “import,” which comes from Latin importare, meaning “to bring in.” The Latin verb was built from in-, meaning “into,” and portare, meaning “to carry.” Its development reflects the long-standing distinction between bringing goods into a place and carrying goods out of it, seen in related terms such as “exportation” and “transportation.”
Related word forms
How importation is actually used
The word is formal and especially common in British English; in everyday American English, “import” is generally preferred. In legal and regulatory contexts, “importation” can refer specifically to the bringing of goods into a customs territory.
Easily confused with importation
“Import” is commonly used as a verb or as a singular collective term for imported goods, whereas “importation” usually names the process of bringing goods into a country.