car wash

noun

1
: an area or structure equipped with facilities for washing automobiles
2
US : an event at which people pay to have their cars washed to raise money for some purpose

Examples of car wash in a Sentence

Our church is having a car wash tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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.
Their appearance may even earn a spot on your calendar as a reminder to stock up on car wash supplies. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026 Plans also included a car wash, gasoline pumps and a separate area for diesel and truck fueling. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026 Private equity has come for seemingly everything from dental practices and veterinary clinics to funeral homes, HVAC companies and car washes. — Brian Taylor, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026 Her client, who was grabbed by immigration agents at a car wash last August, was seeking asylum because of the violence endemic in his region of Mexico. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for car wash

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of car wash was in 1915

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Car wash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/car%20wash. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster