semitrailer
noun
semi·trail·er
ˈse-ˌmī-ˌtrā-lər 
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
The woman found dead during a Commerce City traffic stop in January was fatally injured in an earlier crash when her boyfriend, the driver, hit two vehicles while trying to speed past a semitrailer on the shoulder of Interstate 270, according to court documents.
—
Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 7 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
The storm caused an hours-long mess on Interstate 85 northeast of the city, after a crash left dozens of semitrailers and other vehicles backed up into the evening, according to the State Highway Patrol.
—Adrian Sainz, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
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Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 7 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
The storm caused an hours-long mess on Interstate 85 northeast of the city, after a crash left dozens of semitrailers and other vehicles backed up into the evening, according to the State Highway Patrol.
—Adrian Sainz, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for semitrailer
Cite this Entry
“Semitrailer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semitrailer. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
semitrailer
noun
semi·trail·er
ˈsem-i-ˌtrā-lər
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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