diesel-electric

adjective

die·​sel-elec·​tric ˈdē-zəl- i-ˈlek-trik 

-səl-, 

-ē-ˈlek-

: of, relating to, or employing a diesel engine for driving an electric generator or for charging batteries

a diesel-electric locomotive

diesel-electric submarines

Examples of diesel-electric in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The train had its origins in 1947 as a tool for patriotic education in the earliest stage of the Cold War, when it was pulled by GE’s state-of-the-art red-white-and-blue ALCO diesel-electric engine. — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

Low-noise engineering and a diesel-electric propulsion system enhance onboard comfort. — Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 16 June 2026

The crew of the ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho, a KSS-III-class diesel-electric submarine, received an official welcome at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt on Monday, having arrived on Saturday ahead of exercises with the Canadian and other navies. — ABC News, 25 May 2026

Launched at the yard’s site in La Spezia, the 243-foot superyacht is built on the same diesel-electric platform as the first 74Steel but diverges significantly in layout and concept. — Katia Damborsky, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for diesel-electric

• bioelectric
• ferroelectric
• hydroelectric
• isoelectric
• photoelectric
• pyroelectric
• thermoelectric
• dielectric
• electric
• nonelectric
• piezoelectric