vehicle

noun

ve·​hi·​cle ˈvē-ə-kəl 

also

ˈvē-ˌhi-kəl 

1

: a means of carrying or transporting something

planes, trains, and other vehicles

: such as

a

: motor vehicle

b

: 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

4

a

: an inert medium (such as a syrup) in which a medicinally active agent is administered

b

: any of various media acting usually as solvents, carriers, or binders for active ingredients or pigments

Synonyms

• agency
• agent
• instrument
• instrumentality
• machinery
• means
• medium
• ministry
• organ

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 on the Web

For example, their relief vehicles lacked standard equipment, which added to delays in deploying them. —Brianna Sacks and Anumita Kaur The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 21 Apr. 2024

In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here’s what to know: • Ease off the accelerator — Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction. —Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2024

This story is part of Driving Force, a police accountability project meant to expose and document the prevalence of police vehicle accidents in New York. —USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024

Day 2: Touring Tokyo Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for a private vehicle tour of Sensoji Temple and Kaminarimon Gate, and the Nakamisedori Sensoji Temple — possibly one of the most photographed structures in the city. —John Clifford, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024

Vintage vehicles soon joined the antique tools and mining paraphernalia. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 20 Apr. 2024

But the new section, like the rest of the Underline, is meant to allow people on bikes and other wheeled vehicles to move relatively quickly, in part to encourage commuting and travel between Metro stations. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024

Holloway said there have been fewer vehicle stunts around Liberty Courtyard after the city made road modifications. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2024

Drivers can focus on other activities until the vehicle alerts them to resume control. —Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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 way entry 1

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Phrases Containing vehicle

• air-cushion vehicle
• all-terrain vehicle
• heavy goods vehicle
• launch vehicle
• motor vehicle
• recreational vehicle
• sport utility vehicle
• wave down (a vehicle)

Kids Definition

vehicle

noun

ve·​hi·​cle ˈvē-ˌ(h)ik-əl  ˈvē-ə-kəl 

1

: a means by which something is passed along, expressed, achieved, or shown

movies are vehicles of ideas

2

: something used to transport persons or goods

a space vehicle

Medical Definition

vehicle

noun

ve·​hi·​cle ˈvē-ˌ(h)ik-əl  ˈvē-ə-kəl 

1

: an inert medium in which a medicinally active agent is administered

2

: an agent of transmission

a vehicle of infection