internal combustion engine

noun

: a heat engine in which the combustion that generates the heat takes place inside the engine proper instead of in a furnace

Examples of internal combustion engine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That's the fastest that any car with a hydrogen internal combustion engine has traveled. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Like every other automaker, Defender and JLR are navigating a commercial environment that seems to prefer all-electric vehicles, or hybrids, or internal combustion engine cars, depending on the month or even day. — Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2026

China now has the capacity to produce roughly 55 million cars, including EVs and internal combustion engine vehicles, or roughly 60 percent of the global market of around 90 million cars. — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026

The idea of burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine has been tried before with little success. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

internal combustion engine

noun

: an engine in which the fuel is ignited within the engine cylinder instead of in an external furnace