What does ship mean?
Ship is a common word with both literal and figurative uses. Its original and still central meaning refers to a large boat that carries people, cargo, or materials across water. As a verb, ship means to transport or deliver something, traditionally by sea but now also by another means, such as air or ground. In modern business and technology language, shipping an item means making it available to customers, whether the item is a physical product, a software application, or a piece of content. The word can also appear in metaphorical expressions such as “ship of state,” where a country or organization is imagined as a vessel whose fortunes depend on its leadership and direction. Although the maritime sense remains important, ship now also commonly suggests delivery, release, and completion.
A large boat or vessel used to carry people or cargo, especially at sea.
"The ship sailed across the bay."
The word is generally used for a seagoing vessel or a substantial passenger vessel; “boat” is more general and may refer to smaller craft.
To transport or deliver people or goods, especially by ship; in modern usage, to send or make available for customers.
"The company ships thousands of packages every day."
The business meaning “deliver or release for sale” is common in formal and informal modern English, especially in technology and retail contexts.
The plural ships is used for multiple vessels and is the standard plural form.
"Several ships were anchored in the harbor."
From carrying cargo across the world to making new products available online, “ship” has always been about movement and delivery.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ship come from?
The English word descends from Old English scip, meaning a boat or vessel, and belongs to the Germanic family of words for ships. Its cognates include German Schiff, Dutch schip, and Old Norse skip. The verb meaning “send by ship” developed from the noun, while the modern commercial sense of sending or delivering goods extends that older usage to transportation and distribution generally.
Related word forms
How ship is actually used
The verb meaning “transport by ship” is formal or traditional. The commercial and technological meaning, “deliver or release,” is now common in informal and business contexts. “Ship it” is informal and may sound dismissive or emphatic depending on context.
Easily confused with ship
Ship means a boat or the act of transporting goods, whereas sheep is the wool-bearing farm animal.