crash test dummy
noun
: a life-size model of a person used in tests to see what happens to people when a car gets into an accident
Examples of crash test dummy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the most effective seat belt campaigns was the crash test dummy commercials that NHTSA produced in the 1980s and 1990s.
—
Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
And a crash test dummy's story starts way before they're buckled in for a collision.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025
The standard crash test dummy used in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration five-star vehicle testing was developed in 1978 and was modeled after a 5-foot-9, 171-pound man.
—Jeff McMurray, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2025
The standard crash test dummy used in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration five-star vehicle testing was developed in 1978 and was modeled after a 5-foot-9 (175-centimeter), 171-pound (78-kilogram) man.
—Jeff McMurray, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
Fischer introduced legislation, the She Drives Act, that would require the most advanced testing devices available, including a female crash test dummy.
—CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
The team initially was meant to legitimately compete against the Globetrotters but eventually became the ultimate crash test dummy for its opponents donning red, white and blue on the hardwood.
—Jason Jones, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
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Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
And a crash test dummy's story starts way before they're buckled in for a collision.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025
The standard crash test dummy used in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration five-star vehicle testing was developed in 1978 and was modeled after a 5-foot-9, 171-pound man.
—Jeff McMurray, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2025
The standard crash test dummy used in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration five-star vehicle testing was developed in 1978 and was modeled after a 5-foot-9 (175-centimeter), 171-pound (78-kilogram) man.
—Jeff McMurray, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025
Fischer introduced legislation, the She Drives Act, that would require the most advanced testing devices available, including a female crash test dummy.
—CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
The team initially was meant to legitimately compete against the Globetrotters but eventually became the ultimate crash test dummy for its opponents donning red, white and blue on the hardwood.
—Jason Jones, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crash test dummy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crash%20test%20dummy. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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