minivan

noun

mini·​van ˈmi-nē-ˌvan How to pronounce minivan (audio)
Synonyms of minivannext
: a small passenger van

Examples of minivan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2009, 36-year-old Diane Schuler drove her minivan in the wrong direction on the Taconic State Parkway, resulting in a catastrophic collision with an SUV that killed herself, her daughter, three nieces, and three people in the other vehicle. James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026 He was tragically killed in 2018 while walking across the street in downtown Houston, struck by an 80-year-old woman in a minivan. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026 The Southern California congresswoman was known for driving a minivan and dressing down CEOs with a white board exposing their financial excesses. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 2 June 2026 Other production includes smaller components for the Detroit automaker's light-duty Silverado and Sierra pickups as well as parts of Stellantis' Chrysler Pacifica minivan, a union spokesman confirmed. Michael Wayland, CNBC, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for minivan

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of minivan was in 1959

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Minivan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minivan. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

minivan

noun
mini·​van ˈmin-ē-ˌvan How to pronounce minivan (audio)
: a small passenger van

More from Merriam-Webster on minivan

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster