hatchback

noun hatch·back \ ˈhach-ˌbak \

Updated on: 16 May 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 Springfield News-Leader first reported that Aurora-Marionville police officers had spotted Farris in a Kia hatchback on May 5, and were going to arrest him for an alleged parole violation.

— kaitlyn schwers, kansascity, "He was a wanted man. Cops shot woman who reported him — now he's charged with murder | The Kansas City Star," 11 May 2018
Focus will be recreated as a more robust hatchback, the Focus Active.

— chris woodyard, USA TODAY, "Ford ends iconic Taurus, as cars lose out to popular SUVs," 27 Apr. 2018
Unlike their taller cousins, hatchbacks typically aren’t available with all-wheel drive — a feature that could prove invaluable for grads who end up in the Snow Belt.

— tom voelk, New York Times, "Cars That Will Get Your Grad Down the Road of Life," 19 Apr. 2018
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office describes it as a Mazda 3 hatchback.

— madeleine marr, miamiherald, "He was on his motorcycle and confronted a driver. Then things took a violent turn. | Miami Herald," 9 Apr. 2018
With Audi's fearsome Sport Quattro S1 as competition in 1987, VW Motorsport turbocharged a pair of 1.8L engines (from the 16v Golf GTi), then stuck them longitudinally into a tube-frame chassis that resembled a Golf hatchback.

— jonathan m. gitlin, Ars Technica, "This electric car could set a new record to the top of Pikes Peak this year," 19 Mar. 2018
An employee at Meijer, 5800 W. Layton Ave., reported Feb. 28 a female and male ran out of the store with multiple televisions and other merchandise and left the area in a silver Ford hatchback.

— bob dohr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Greendale High School student cited for bringing marijuana-laced suckers to school," 8 Mar. 2018
The changes complement the Regal’s design, which features a forward-leaning stance, long nose and short deck that cleverly disguises a hatchback.

— mark phelan, Detroit Free Press, "First drive: 2018 Buick Regal GS delivers performance, value," 26 Feb. 2018
If your son or daughter graduated with a degree in environmental studies, consider a hybrid hatchback: the Hyundai Ioniq Blue ($23,085).

— tom voelk, New York Times, "Cars That Will Get Your Grad Down the Road of Life," 19 Apr. 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.

First Known Use of hatchback

1970

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

HATCHBACK Defined for English Language Learners

hatchback

noun

Definition of hatchback for English Language Learners

: a door that opens upward on the back of a car; also : a car that has such a door

Learn More about hatchback

See words that rhyme with hatchback Spanish Central: Translation of hatchback

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up hatchback? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

hatchback

Definition of hatchback

Recent Examples of hatchback from the Web

First Known Use of hatchback

HATCHBACK Defined for English Language Learners

hatchback

Definition of hatchback for English Language Learners

Learn More about hatchback

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

petard

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

12 Words from All Over the Map

'Ingenious' and 'Ingenuous': More Than a Typo

A Matter-of-Fact Look at 'Deadpan'

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Spell It

Word Winder's CrossWinder

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

12 Words from All Over the Map

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word

hatchback

Definition of hatchback

Recent Examples of hatchback from the Web

First Known Use of hatchback

HATCHBACK Defined for English Language Learners

hatchback

Definition of hatchback for English Language Learners

Learn More about hatchback

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

12 Words from All Over the Map

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word