vehicle

noun

ve·hi·cle ˈvē-ə-kəl

also

ˈvē-ˌhi-kəl

: a means of carrying or transporting something

planes, trains, and other vehicles

: such as

: motor vehicle

: a piece of mechanized equipment

: an agent of transmission : carrier

: 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

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

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

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Built by Annex Marketing to fill the evergreen market held by people who reside in an urban setting but want an off-road-capable vehicle just in case.

Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 1 Nov. 2022 The move marks the 119-year-old company’s latest attempt to transform itself into an electric vehicle (EV) company.

Nate Dicamillo, Quartz, 31 Oct. 2022 Brandon Hernandez, 26, of the 8800 block of Golf Road, Des Plaines, was charged with DUI, improper lane usage and driving an uninsured vehicle in the 5600 block of Touhy Avenue on Oct. 21.

Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2022 The car driver was found at fault for the collision and was given a ticket for failure to move over for an emergency vehicle, the report states.

Pam Mcloughlin, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2022 The average cost of an electric vehicle in New Delhi is roughly $20,000, while an average, entry-level fossil- fuel car can be bought for less than $5,000.

Time, 28 Oct. 2022 McCallister said the teen swerved into traffic at Big Tree and Old Kings roads, and was subsequently struck by an oncoming vehicle, per the report.

Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2022 The Mustang then continued on, while debris hit an occupied vehicle in the parking lot of a convenience store and several unoccupied vehicles at a nearby car dealership lot.

Michael Roppolo, CBS News, 26 Oct. 2022 The unidentified man fled in an unknown vehicle before officers arrived.

Angela Cordoba Perez, The Arizona Republic, 23 Oct. 2022 See More

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.

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

See more words from the same year