chassis

noun

chas·​sis ˈcha-sē  ˈsha-sē 

also ˈcha-səs

plural chassis ˈcha-sēz 

ˈsha-sēz

: the supporting frame of a structure (such as an automobile or television)

Leaf springs are attached to the car's chassis.

also : the frame and working parts (as of an automobile or electronic device) exclusive of the body or housing

Examples of chassis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Workmate double cab-chassis starts at AU$60,272 (US$43,025). —C.c. Weiss may 21, New Atlas, 21 May 2026

Unlike SpaceX’s hangars full of reusable rockets, there’s no building with cameras, spectrometers, telescopes, and spacecraft buses—the core chassis of a satellite platform—lying around waiting to launch. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026

Some of these cars, including the Zonda Cervino, have been rebuilds based on an existing chassis but feature new bodywork and a host of other upgrades. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 May 2026

The underpowered engine dulls the otherwise capable chassis, fuel economy is merely average and the move towards touchscreen-heavy controls comes at the expense of usability. —Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French châssis "window sash, cold frame, frame holding cloth to be painted or embroidered, supporting frame of a motor vehicle," going back to Old French chasiz "window frame" from casse (Anglo-Norman & Norman dialect) "reliquary" (Middle French chasse "frame, mount") + -iz, denominal collective suffix, often of things linked or intertwined, of uncertain origin — more at case entry 2

Note: To judge by the derivative chasiz, attested already in the twelfth century (Roman d'Énéas), the meaning "frame" of casse/chasse is older than its first Middle French attestation in the fourteenth century. Presumably the Latin source capsa had developed more than one sense, all subsumable under the meaning "something holding or enclosing" in Gallo-Romance.

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chassis

• assay
• bassi
• brassey
• brassy
• cassie
• classy
• gassy
• glassy
• grassy
• lassie
• massy
• sassy

Kids Definition

chassis

noun

chas·​sis ˈshas-ē  ˈchas-ē 

plural chassis -ēz 

: a supporting frame (as that of the body of an automobile or airplane or the parts of a radio or television receiver)