Definition of vehicle
1 : a means of carrying or transporting something planes, trains, and other vehicles: such asa : motor vehicleb : a piece of mechanized equipment
2 : an agent of transmission : carrier
3 : a medium through which something is expressed, achieved, or displayed an investment vehicle; especially : a work created especially to display the talents of a particular performer
4a : an inert medium (such as a syrup) in which a medicinally active agent is administeredb : any of various media acting usually as solvents, carriers, or binders for active ingredients or pigments
Read the Latest from M-W
Examples of vehicle in a Sentence
cars, trucks, and other vehicles
The vehicle's driver was severely injured in the crash.
Have you seen his new car? It's a fine-looking vehicle.
Water and insects can be vehicles of infection.
art as a vehicle for self-expression
Words and pictures are vehicles of communication.
These big-budget movies are star vehicles for well-known actors.
Recent Examples of vehicle from the Web
-
Sport utility vehicles and sedans produced at those sites make BMW and Mercedes two of America’s five biggest auto exporters.
-
The motorist drove off and police do not have a description of the vehicle involved in the crash.
-
Others said the addition of a drop-off lane would only add to the number of vehicles in the area.
-
The military used large armored vehicles and boats to transport people to safe areas.
-
Mr. Ponte stepped down this month after investigations into the misuse of city vehicles by the commissioner and his aides, as well as a campaign of spying on city investigators by the Correction Department’s internal affairs division.
-
That trend, called new vintage, lays claim to a large community of people who seek out, collect and restore vehicles that aren't incredibly old, but are still incredible.
-
Critics were quick to pounce on the statement, noting that German manufacturers produce vehicles at their own plants in the United States - most notably in southern states like Alabama that went heavily for Trump in last year's election.
-
The small launch vehicle successfully lifted off from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand at 12:20 a.m. ET on Thursday May 25—4:20 p.m. New Zealand time.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vehicle'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of vehicle
borrowed from French & Latin; French véhicule, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin vehiculum “medium, agent of transmission,” going back to Latin, “wheeled vehicle, means of transport,” from vehere “to carry, convey” + -culum, instrumental suffix (going back to Indo-European *-tlom) — more at 1way
First Known Use: 1612
VEHICLE Defined for English Language Learners
vehicle
playDefinition of vehicle for English Language Learners
-
: a machine that is used to carry people or goods from one place to another
-
: the thing that allows something to be passed along, expressed, achieved, or shown
VEHICLE Defined for Kids
vehicle
playDefinition of vehicle for Students
1 : something used to transport people or goods
2 : a means by which something is expressed, achieved, or shown She used the show as a vehicle to display her talent.
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about vehicle
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for vehicle Spanish Central: Translation of vehicle Nglish: Translation of vehicle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of vehicle for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vehicle
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up vehicle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!