hot rod

noun

: an automobile rebuilt or modified for high speed and fast acceleration

Examples of hot rod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The theme park will feature attractions also located at its first location in Arizona, including two highly immersive Hot Wheels roller coasters, double-looping Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer and Hot Wheels Bone Shaker, emblazoned with the famous hot rod’s skull design. Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024 Here's a look at what to expect ahead of the annual hot rod custom car show's return. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024 Custom cars The show will feature more than 800 custom cars and hot rods. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024 Like most hot rods, the name smashes together various bits of identity and branding to create both a descriptive moment and a few beats of expectation. Ewan Spence, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Here are five things to do for the weekend of March 1-3 Detroit Autorama The 71st annual Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama is set to display more than 800 hot rods, customs vehicles, unique trucks, and motorcycles from around the world. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 1 Mar. 2024 Close to 50 classic cars and hot rods were also on display for attendees to view. Annika Bahnsen, Orange County Register, 5 Feb. 2024 In the early days, steelworkers toiled in extreme heat, catching steel hot rods with cotton gloves and tongs. Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2024 His Esquire feature on hot rods, for instance, the piece that brought him to prominence, is more than just the first major showcase for his pyrotechnic prose or an informative and engaging look at youth car culture. Seyward Darby, Longreads, 9 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hot rod.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hot rod was in 1943

Dictionary Entries Near hot rod

Cite this Entry

“Hot rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20rod. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

hot rod

noun
: an automobile rebuilt or changed for high speed and fast acceleration

More from Merriam-Webster on hot rod

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