boxcar

1 of 2

noun

box·​car ˈbäks-ˌkär How to pronounce boxcar (audio)
: a roofed freight car usually with sliding doors in the sides

boxcar

2 of 2

adjective

: very large
the judge awarded her a boxcar figure

Examples of boxcar in a Sentence

Adjective a boxcar pile of paper
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Older residents talk about how their ancestors settled here, building homes out of scraps of boxcars, which gave the area its name. Stephanie Gosk, NBC news, 15 May 2025 The new ballpark will offer more concessions and points of purchase, traditional suites, dugout suites, boxcar suites built out of surplus railway boxcars, and party decks, which have no seating but provide a fun space for kids to run around and play while adults relax with bar access. Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Adjective
As the Great Depression deepened in the early 1930s, an even more cruel twist was coming: White residents of Silvis complained that the Mexicans living in the rail yard didn’t have to pay property taxes on their boxcar homes. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2022 The modernist gem — a pristine example of Neutra’s boxcar style — is a fitting home for Grey. Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2022 See All Example Sentences for boxcar

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from the high numbers stenciled on the sides of boxcars

First Known Use

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boxcar was in 1831

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boxcar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boxcar. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

boxcar

noun
box·​car
ˈbäk-ˌskär
: a roofed freight car usually with sliding doors in the sides

More from Merriam-Webster on boxcar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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