fifth wheel
noun
1
a
: a horizontal wheel or segment of a wheel that consists of two parts rotating on each other above the fore axle of a carriage and that forms support to prevent tipping
b
: a similar coupling between tractor and trailer of a semitrailer
2
: one that is superfluous, unnecessary, or burdensome
Examples of fifth wheel in a Sentence
He felt more and more like a fifth wheel at the office.
Recent Examples on the Web
The entire industry depends on this, the jaws of the fifth wheel clamping properly around the kingpin.
—
Emily Gogolak, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
Kim Kardashian will be the fifth wheel for Netflix.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Nov. 2023
After taking the space Carrie wanted to deny her, Seema shows up to dinner to be the fifth wheel at dinner with Aidan, Miranda, Charlotte, and Carrie.
—Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 3 Aug. 2023
Their 47-foot fifth wheel, and home, is their third camper.
—Byalena Botros, Fortune, 20 June 2023
These revisions are supplemented by new trailering technology, including adaptive cruise control with trailering, gross combination weight (GCW) alert, and GM's Transparent Trailer View is now also compatible for gooseneck and fifth wheel trailering.
—Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 1 May 2023
Get factory-direct prices on top RV brands and see the latest floorplans on a fifth wheel with a large kitchen or a compact camper van.
—Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 7 Jan. 2023
Cameras help the driver line up a hitch or fifth wheel, and there's an optional accessory camera for the back of a trailer to give drivers a view behind them.
—Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 6 Oct. 2022
Hey, who hasn't been the fifth wheel at some point?
—Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 8 May 2022
Emily Gogolak, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
Kim Kardashian will be the fifth wheel for Netflix.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Nov. 2023
After taking the space Carrie wanted to deny her, Seema shows up to dinner to be the fifth wheel at dinner with Aidan, Miranda, Charlotte, and Carrie.
—Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 3 Aug. 2023
Their 47-foot fifth wheel, and home, is their third camper.
—Byalena Botros, Fortune, 20 June 2023
These revisions are supplemented by new trailering technology, including adaptive cruise control with trailering, gross combination weight (GCW) alert, and GM's Transparent Trailer View is now also compatible for gooseneck and fifth wheel trailering.
—Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 1 May 2023
Get factory-direct prices on top RV brands and see the latest floorplans on a fifth wheel with a large kitchen or a compact camper van.
—Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 7 Jan. 2023
Cameras help the driver line up a hitch or fifth wheel, and there's an optional accessory camera for the back of a trailer to give drivers a view behind them.
—Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 6 Oct. 2022
Hey, who hasn't been the fifth wheel at some point?
—Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 8 May 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fifth wheel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fifth wheel
Cite this Entry
“Fifth wheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fifth%20wheel. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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