What is a funicular railway?

In the news about the recent accident at a ski resort in Austria, the reporters called the cable car that carried the skiers up the mountain a "funicular railway." What is that and how does it work?

Fribourg's Sewage-Powered Funicular Has Been Running Since 1899

Principe-Granarolo Funicular Railway - Atlas Obscura

Funicular Railways - Doppelmayr Group

The funicular railway runs across the alpine meadows, Muottas Muragl, Samedan, Canton of Graubunden, Engadine, Switzerland

The funicular railway runs across the alpine meadows, Samedan, Switzerland Solid-Faced Canvas Print

The funicular railway - Pic du Jer

Cairngorm funicular railway to be closed on Tuesdays for most of

Incline Railways in the Vernacular of One Particular Spectacular

Funicular (Cable) Railway

The Southend Cliff Lift, a funicular railway built in 1912 in the

Funicular Railway Giessbach Stand Seilbahn Berner Oberland…

15 of Europe's Most Fantastic Funicular Railways

Fløibanen funicular - visitBergen.com