automobile

1 of 3

noun (1)

au·​to·​mo·​bile ˌȯ-tə-mō-ˈbēl 

ˈȯ-tə-mō-ˌbēl, 

ˌȯ-tə-ˈmō-ˌbēl 

: a usually four-wheeled automotive vehicle designed for passenger transportation

automobile intransitive verb

automobilist

ˌȯ-tə-mō-ˈbē-list  ˌȯ-tə-ˈmō-ˌbē-list 

noun

automobile

2 of 3

adjective

: automotive

automobilist

3 of 3

noun (2)

au·​to·​mo·​bil·​ist ¦ȯ-tə-mō-¦bē-list 

ˌȯ-tə-ˈmō-ˌbē-list

plural -s

: one who uses an automobile : motorist

Synonyms of automobile

Noun (1)

• car
• bus
• machine

Examples of automobile in a Sentence

Noun (1)

He drives an expensive automobile.

browsed online for used automobiles for sale

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The small, seemingly insignificant experience of controlling an automobile by clutching and levering its gears turned out to be deeply meaningful. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Plastic parts for automobiles and surgical instruments cannot simply be sourced elsewhere on short notice. — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Adjective

Pre-19th-century houses tend to be built right up against busy main roads (for ease of access in pre-automobile times). — Jenny Xie, Curbed, 28 Jan. 2022

The Transportation Committee, chaired by Kerry McCormack, has expanded its purview to examine regional transportation policies, and focus more on non-automobile forms of transportation, like rail, bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters. — Courtney Astolfi, cleveland, 4 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

derivative of automobile entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from French, "self-propelled," from auto- auto- + mobile mobile entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1881, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1876, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for automobile

• periosteal
• peritoneal
• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal
• cornmeal

Kids Definition

automobile

1 of 2 adjective

au·​to·​mo·​bile ˈȯt-ə-mō-ˌbēl  ˌȯt-ə-mō-ˈbē(ə)l 

ˌȯt-ə-ˈmō-ˌbēl

: of or relating to automobiles

automobile

2 of 2 noun

: a usually four-wheeled vehicle with its own power system (as an internal combustion engine) designed for passenger transportation

automobile verb

automobilist

-mō-ˈbē-ləst 

noun