freighter
UK: ˈfreɪtə | US: ˈfreɪtər
n. a ship or aircraft used for transporting goods
n. a person or company that transports goods commercially
The word "freighter" combines "freight" (from Middle Dutch vrecht, meaning "goods transported for pay") with the agentive suffix "-er," which indicates a person or thing performing an action. Originally, "freight" referred to the cargo itself, but by adding "-er," the term evolved to denote the vessel or entity responsible for carrying such cargo. This reflects a common pattern in English where "-er" transforms verbs or nouns into agentive nouns (e.g., "singer," "computer").
The freighter delivered supplies to the remote island.
Modern freighters can carry thousands of shipping containers.
He worked as a freighter, transporting coal along the river.
The airline operates a fleet of cargo freighters.
The freighter was delayed due to bad weather.