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 clearance on the viaduct is 11 feet, 9 inches, substantially less than the maximum legal height for vehicles in Illinois, which is 13 feet, 6 inches, meaning many semitrailers are more than a foot too tall to fit under the viaduct. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Northbound Interstate 29 was closed early Tuesday after a semitrailer truck crashed, spilling its load across the highway, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Kansas City District. — Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

One person was taken to the hospital after a semitrailer crashed and caught fire on eastbound Interstate 70 in Arapahoe County on Friday afternoon, according to the Colorado State Patrol. — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 4 Sep. 2026

Named after the original manufacturer, Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Jake brakes are found on large diesel trucks, such as dump trucks and semitrailers. — Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for semitrailer

• bailer
• bailor
• baler
• jailer
• jailor
• paler
• sailer
• sailor
• scalar
• scaler
• tailor
• trailer

Kids 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