hatchback

noun

hatch·​back ˈhach-ˌbak 

: an automobile the back of which consists of a hatch that opens upward

also : the back itself

Examples of hatchback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Irvine, who was commuting home from his job as a technician in a dark blue Volkswagen hatchback, came to an abrupt stop in free-flowing traffic, lurching to the far-right lane. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

There was also a Civic hatchback built as a Dodge Charger from the 1970s as recently as 2023. — New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026

Its first hatchback was still a three-door, though, and slightly more practical for carrying cargo rather than humans in the rear. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2026

While the final configuration makes the most sense for me as a driving enthusiast, the hatchback and its sedan counterpart offer value that most drivers can appreciate across trim levels including both base models. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hatchback

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

hatchback

noun

hatch·​back ˈhach-ˌbak 

1

: a back on an automobile having an upward-opening hatch

2

: an automobile having a hatchback