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 semitrailer was carrying roughly 50,000 pounds of bees when the driver failed to complete a turn and tipped over, according to local radio station KOGT. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 23 June 2026

Bees are seen after a semitrailer carrying about 400 beehives toppled over, allowing millions of bees to escape into a rural neighborhood in Orange, Texas, on June 21, 2026. — CBS News, 23 June 2026

The two are roughly the same size — about that of a semitrailer truck — and similarly barrel-shaped. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 15 June 2026

The video came from the dash camera of a semitrailer that almost collided with the two stopped cars on Wednesday, according to the Wheat Ridge Police Department. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 June 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