chariot

1 of 2

noun

char·​i·​ot ˈcher-ē-ət 

ˈcha-rē-

1

: a light four-wheeled pleasure or state carriage

2

: a two-wheeled horse-drawn battle car of ancient times used also in processions and races

chariot

2 of 2

verb

charioted; charioting; chariots

intransitive verb

: to drive or ride in or as if in a chariot

transitive verb

: to carry in or as if in a chariot

Examples of chariot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One such example can be found in the Latin mythological text Fabulae, in which the sisters of Phaethon are transformed into poplar trees as punishment for yoking his chariot without their father’s permission. —Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025

Historian-folklorist Adrienne Mayor reminds us that the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata already envision mechanical warriors and self-moving chariots forged by the engineer-god Viśvakarma. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025

Flaming weapons, glass boats, and a chariot pulled by flying scarabs make their way into the picture, as well as a seeming mandate that none of the performers wear too much in the way of clothes. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2025

The day begins with the different Latin classes racing chariots. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English chariot, chariette "wheeled vehicle for transporting people or things, vehicle used in warfare," borrowed from Anglo-French, "four-wheeled vehicle" (also continental Old French), from charier "to transport, carry entry 1" + -ot, noun suffix, here instrumental, going back to Vulgar Latin *-ottus, variant of Latin -ittus, diminutive suffix

Note: Other examples of -ot as an instrumental suffix are brûlot "fireship," cachot "prison cell."

Verb

derivative of chariot entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1550, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for chariot

• lariat
• variate
• bivariate
• vicariate
• multivariate
• proletariat
• secretariat
• uniseriate
• univariate

Kids Definition

chariot

noun

char·​i·​ot

ˈchar-ē-ət

: a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle of ancient times used in battle and also in races and parades