sport utility vehicle

noun

variants or sport-utility vehicle

ˈspȯrt-yü-ˈti-lə-tē- 

or less commonly sport utility or sport-utility

plural sport utility vehicles or sport-utility vehicles also sport utilities or sport-utilities

: a rugged automotive vehicle similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis : suv

called also sport-ute

Examples of sport utility vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For years, American roads have been dominated by the sport utility vehicle. — New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026

The suspect was a woman who was armed with a black, semi-automatic pistol and fled the scene in a black Jeep sport utility vehicle. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Cress agreed with Sacramento County prosecutors, who argued Kaur did not get out of her sport utility vehicle to check on the unconscious Lopez after striking his motorcycle or attempt to render aid. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Buyers are gravitating away from big pickups and sport utility vehicles and choosing more fuel-efficient hybrids and midsize pickups. — New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sport-utility vehicle

noun

sport-util·​i·​ty vehicle

ˈspȯrt-yü-ˈtil-ət-ē-

: a rugged automotive vehicle similar to a station wagon but built on a light truck chassis