internal combustion engine

noun

: a heat engine in which the combustion that generates the heat takes place inside the engine proper instead of in a furnace

Examples of internal combustion engine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This transfer process is vital for an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to deliver power to the wheels. Charles Singh, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026 Winkelmann said the sluggish demand for luxury EVs is not just a result of macroeconomic and political factors, but also of the cars being tactically less appealing than their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026 Largely ignored by the industry, the Skyactiv engines have progressively improved everything about the internal combustion engine (ICE) and have done so without costly turbocharging or efficiency-killing reburns. New Atlas, 23 Feb. 2026 The electrical output has almost tripled to 350kW, and the power split will now be nearly 50-50 between the internal combustion engine and the hybrid system. Luke Smith, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for internal combustion engine

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of internal combustion engine was in 1884

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Cite this Entry

“Internal combustion engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/internal%20combustion%20engine. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

internal combustion engine

noun
: an engine in which the fuel is ignited within the engine cylinder instead of in an external furnace
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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