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 With room for further rate reductions, lower borrowing costs may stimulate demand for big-ticket purchases such as vehicles, benefiting automotive players such as GM. Trefis Team, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Police only started investigating her whereabouts last Monday after the car rental company reported their vehicle had not been returned. Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024 Afterwards, heavy vehicles transport these salts to a company in Maragheh County, north-western East Azerbaijan Province. Photovogue, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2024 The motorcyclist, Jacob Vela, 38, collided with the officer's vehicle in the intersection. Karen Bartunek, The Arizona Republic, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vehicle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vehicle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near vehicle

Cite this Entry

“Vehicle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vehicle. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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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