binnacle
noun
bin·na·cle
ˈbi-ni-kəl 
1
: a housing for a ship's compass and a lamp
2
: a container for instruments in an automobile dashboard
All but the shortest drivers find unrestricted sightlines to a hooded instrument binnacle loaded with nicely legible gauges.—
Daniel Charles Ross
Daniel Charles RossExamples of binnacle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In place of the separate infotainment screen, the instrument binnacle has been integrated into the display in a sleek statement piece.
—Trinity Francis, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Driver’s instrument binnacle, which offers a wide range of display options.
—Mark Ewing, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
The binnacle itself has been shaped aerodynamically.
—Jason Barlow, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024
Chassis and power-train modes are selected by rocker switches within fingertip reach on the instrument binnacle, leaving the steering wheel pleasingly bereft of buttons.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 2 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for binnacle
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Trinity Francis, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Driver’s instrument binnacle, which offers a wide range of display options.
—Mark Ewing, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
The binnacle itself has been shaped aerodynamically.
—Jason Barlow, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024
Chassis and power-train modes are selected by rocker switches within fingertip reach on the instrument binnacle, leaving the steering wheel pleasingly bereft of buttons.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 2 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for binnacle
Cite this Entry
“Binnacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/binnacle. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
binnacle
noun
bin·na·cle
ˈbin-i-kəl
: a box or stand containing a ship's compass and a lamp
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