vehicle

noun

ve·​hi·​cle ˈvē-ə-kəl How to pronounce vehicle (audio)
also
ˈvē-ˌhi-kəl How to pronounce vehicle (audio)
1
: a means of carrying or transporting something
planes, trains, and other vehicles
: such as
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An Ohio sheriff's deputy working on a traffic detail near the University of Cincinnati was struck and killed Friday by a vehicle driven by the father of a teenager who was shot and killed by authorities a day earlier, police said. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025 Ford did see sales dips in its all-electric vehicles. Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 3 May 2025 Aside from rare earth minerals, China also dominates production of critical minerals such as lithium and graphite, which are both essential for producing batteries used in electric vehicles and other devices. Alain Sherter, CBS News, 2 May 2025 Senate Bill 770, authored by state Sen. Ben Allen of Los Angeles, proposes to make a small but significant amendment to the current law promoting electric vehicle charging stations in HOAs. Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for vehicle

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of vehicle was in 1612

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vehicle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vehicle. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

vehicle

noun
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
1
: an inert medium in which a medicinally active agent is administered
2
: an agent of transmission
a vehicle of infection

More from Merriam-Webster on vehicle

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