semitrailer

noun

semi·​trail·​er ˈse-ˌmī-ˌtrā-lər How to pronounce semitrailer (audio)
ˈse-mē-
-mi-
plural semitrailers
1
: a freight trailer that when attached is supported at its forward end by the fifth wheel device of the truck tractor
2
: a trucking rig made up of a tractor and a semitrailer

called also big rig

Examples of semitrailer 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.
Northbound Interstate 25 was closed for more than five hours Wednesday morning after two semitrailers crashed near Fort Collins in northern Colorado, according to state officials. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026 Canned or jarred groceries will quickly reach a 40,000-pound limit, but corn chips or saltines may fill the 4,000-cubic-foot volume limit of a semitrailer before the weight limit is reached. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026 In 2018, a semitrailer truck collided with a bus carrying a youth hockey team to a playoff game in western Canada, killing 16 people and injuring several others. ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026 Hyundai Translead, North America’s leading semitrailer builder, struck an agreement with the state to establish major new manufacturing facilities in Will County, creating close to 2,500 new Illinois jobs. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for semitrailer

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of semitrailer was in 1912

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Semitrailer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semitrailer. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

semitrailer

noun
semi·​trail·​er ˈsem-i-ˌtrā-lər How to pronounce semitrailer (audio)
ˈsem-ˌī-
1
: a freight trailer that when attached is supported at its forward end by the truck tractor
2
: a trucking rig made up of a tractor and a semitrailer

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