semitrailer

noun semi·trail·er \ ˈse-ˌmī-ˌtrā-lər , ˈse-mē- , -mi- \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of semitrailer

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

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Recent Examples of semitrailer from the Web

The Humboldt Broncos were on their way to play the Nipawin Hawks in the semifinals of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs when their bus collided with a semitrailer truck on a rural Canadian highway.

— jason boatright, kansascity, "Hockey world mourns Humboldt Broncos after tragic bus crash in Canada | The Kansas City Star," 8 Apr. 2018
On Thursday morning — National Vietnam War Veterans Day — three semitrailer flatbed trucks hauling 50 tons of black granite cut into six large slabs pulled into a parking lot inside Camp Pendleton.

— carl prine, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Stonework for Vietnam memorial arrives at Camp Pendleton," 29 Mar. 2018
The driver of the semitrailer was injured and taken to the hospital.

— Fox News, "Dramatic South Carolina school bus crash caught on camera," 25 Mar. 2018
The semitrailer was being removed as of 5 p.m. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page.

— justin madden, cleveland.com, "Interstate 77 northbound closed due to disabled semitrailer, police say," 16 Mar. 2018
At least 39 immigrants, most of them from Mexico, had been packed inside the sweltering semitrailer.

— Fox News, "Stash house operator pleads guilty in deadly smuggling run," 8 Mar. 2018
The company goes through two semitrailer loads of dried corn and one truckload of flour a week.

— john sowell, idahostatesman, "Casa Valdez has cranked out tortillas for 41 years. Now, owner is calling it quits," 23 Jan. 2018
Dozens of semitrailer trucks carry cattle daily from Simplot’s Grand View feedlot to the new CS Beef Packers plant in Kuna.

— david staats, idahostatesman, "Simco Road offers drivers a shortcut — or a potential tragedy | Idaho Statesman," 13 Jan. 2018
In a similar incident in July that left 10 people dead in a sweltering semitrailer, San Antonio police turned over the surviving immigrants to federal authorities.

— jason buch, San Antonio Express-News, "Texas Attorney General investigating San Antonio smuggling incident," 10 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'semitrailer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of semitrailer

1919

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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SEMITRAILER Defined for English Language Learners

semitrailer

noun

Definition of semitrailer for English Language Learners

: a long trailer that has wheels at the rear and is attached at its forward end to a large truck
: a large truck with a long trailer attached to the back of it