hatchback

noun hatch·back \ ˈhach-ˌbak \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Definition of hatchback

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

See hatchback defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of hatchback from the Web

The Kicks, officially considered a five-door hatchback by the EPA, earned fuel economy ratings of 31 city, 36 highway and 33 combined — or a burn rate of three gallons per 100 miles.

— jeff yip, Houston Chronicle, "Nissan Kicks: Easy-to-drive CUV offers higher-end features for under $20,000," 30 June 2018
The radical Civic Type R is a polarizing hi-po hatchback.

— eric stafford, Car and Driver, "2018 Honda Civic Type R," 22 Feb. 2018
For the past five years, the world's top-selling EV has been the Nissan Leaf, a compact hatchback that through late 2015 only provided about 80 miles of real-world driving range.

— bradley berman, Popular Mechanics, "How Far (Literally) Can the Electric Car Go?," 8 Feb. 2016
Test Results: Interior Sound Levels at 70 mph Seating and Step-In Height True to its slight stature, this hatchback’s seating height is more like that of a sedan than SUV.

— Car and Driver, "2017 Volkswagen e-Golf," 6 Mar. 2018
Indeed, while the front signature grille wows with its LED headlights and angular corners, the massive hatchback rear trunk has room enough to fit at least one bicycle and a pass-through function long enough to fit skis or snowboards inside the car.

— hannah elliott, Bloomberg.com, "Audi Debuts the A7, a Sexier Answer to Station Wagons," 15 Jan. 2018
Residents huddled under the hatchbacks of their SUVs.

— zach despart, Houston Chronicle, "Undaunted by downpours, Lindale Park holds July 4 parade," 4 July 2018
That’s less than many of its hatchback competitors.

— andrew moseman, Popular Mechanics, "They Made the Toyota Corolla Cool," 29 June 2018
The spacious hatchback has always balanced good handling with punchy powertrains in a package versatile enough to mature with owners beyond their 20s.

— robert duffer, chicagotribune.com, "Car review: Volkswagen finally gives Golf GTI the tech it deserves," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hatchback.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.