# ton-mile

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A unit of measure expressed in number of short tons moved over a specific distance in miles.

## Etymology
Compound of ton + mile, although, as with any such unit of measure (e.g., person-months, newton metres), the mathematical relationship of multiplication is simultaneously involved: X tons transported a distance of Y miles = X × Y = Z ton-miles. Attested since the 19th century in railway logistical usage; greatly increased in use by the logistics boom of World War II and the continued postwar development of advanced logistics.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ton-mile