trade route

noun

1
: one of the sea-lanes ordinarily used by merchant ships
2
: a route followed by traders (as in caravans)

Examples of trade route 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.
That left a thinner-than-expected crowd, mostly made up of local executives, to hear the kingdom seek deeper international cooperation to secure energy supplies and trade routes. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The Panama Canal Authority said operations were continuing normally along the global trade route. — Aris Mariota, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 The pandemic probably began with fleas that bit rodents in Africa, and the disease raced along trade routes, killing up to 100 million people. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 An alternative trade route in the region, Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, underscores jitters felt in oil markets. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trade route

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trade route was in 1828

Rhymes for trade route

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Browse Nearby Words

trade rat
trade route
tradership
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Cite this Entry

“Trade route.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade%20route. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

trade route

noun
1
: one of the sea-lanes used by merchant ships
2
: a route followed by traders (as in caravans)

More from Merriam-Webster on trade route

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trade route

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