rearview mirror

noun

rear·​view mirror ˈrir-ˌvyü- 

variants or rearview

plural rearview mirrors or rearviews

1

: a mirror (as in an automobile) that gives the driver a view of the area behind a vehicle

The air fresheners that dangle from rearview mirrors have been a ubiquitous accessory in cars for decades.

—Mike Baker and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs

Another car's headlights appeared in her rearview—the first she'd seen since … turning onto Route 60.

—Erin Brockovich and C. J. Lyons

2

: past entry 3

—used in phrases like in the rearview mirror, in one's rearview mirror and in one's rearview

With the midterm elections barely in the rearview mirror, the competition is heating up among states trying to move up in the presidential primary lineup.

—Alex Seitz-Wald and Natasha Korecki

Siakam was coming off shoulder surgery as well. … But Siakam put all that in his rearview mirror and never looked back, finishing with career highs in rebounds and assists …

—Mike Ganter

After Zayn Malik abruptly departed from One Direction in 2015, he largely left the band in his rearview.

—Larisha Paul

… [rappers] Killer Mike and El-P, both of whom had left rap's zeitgeist in their rearviews long ago …

—Tom Breihan

Examples of rearview mirror in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As 2025 fades away in the rearview mirror, Americans have quickly shifted their attention toward recent events in Venezuela. —Stephen Wilder, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Jan. 2026

The city fades quickly in the rearview mirror. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026

Spending time in the 2026 Polestar 4 and really feeling mixed about the no rear window situation and only being able to rely on a rearview mirror that’s displaying a video feed. —Joel Feder, The Drive, 7 Jan. 2026

With the 2025 season now in the rearview mirror, the Dolphins will now have to answer serious questions about the future of the franchise as the search for the next general manager — and potentially franchise quarterback — will officially begin. —Miami Herald, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rearview mirror

• clearer
• dearer
• hearer
• nearer
• shearer

Kids Definition

rearview mirror

noun

rear·​view mirror ˌri(ə)r-ˌvyü- 

: a mirror (as in a car) that gives a view to the rear