The aim of the study was to analyze the scientific views on the definition of liner shipping at various stages of its development. For this, literary sources for more than a hundred years of research on this issue were analyzed. The analysis emphasizes the lack of systemic studies on this issue and the scientific approach to the definition of the concept in question. As a result of the study, the stages of development of liner shipping are presented and the main characteristic features for the concept are given, its boundaries are established. The resulting research also synthesizes the scientific papers in the field of liner shipping, which represents an important supporting tool for future theoretical and applied studies. Taking into account the exceptional role of liner shipping in intermodal delivery systems, the presented analysis is useful for all involved transport modes.