automobile
Americannoun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of automobile
1865–70; < French: literally, self-movable (vehicle). See auto- 1, mobile
Explanation
An automobile is a car: a vehicle with four wheels and an internal combustion engine. The automobile is one of the most common ways to travel. Thanks in part to Henry Ford, automobiles are just about everywhere: in cities, small towns, and even in rural areas, where it's too far to walk from place to place and there's very little public transportation. Trucks, vans, buses, and limousines are bigger than the typical automobile, but they’re automobiles, too. A motorcycle isn't an automobile because it only has two wheels. Automobiles are good for getting around, but they also cause pollution and automobile accidents.
Vocabulary lists containing automobile
To Thine Own Self Be True: Auto
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Frankenwords: Words with Roots from Different Languages
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: auto-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
One of park officials’ most significant management challenges started when tourists began entering Yosemite by automobile.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
It recently presented a proposal to require half of the components and materials in an automobile to come from U.S. sources.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
I traveled the country by plane, train, and automobile and spent 17 days eating some of the best food I had ever encountered.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
For better and worse, the automobile shaped American culture—encouraging the mobility that added vigor to the economy, creating the romance of the open road, prompting leisurely Sunday drives and offering drivers an identity marker.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026
“Sí, an automobile, silly one,” he mocked her.
From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty
Canadian premiers have said repeatedly that the boycott will be lifted if the US removes its tariffs on key Canadian sectors, including metals and automobiles.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The move is likely to fuel uncertainty for businesses, given the deep integration across North American supply chains in sectors like automobiles.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
The U.S. is pushing for higher U.S. content in goods that comply with the pact, particularly automobiles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
For Canada, a major sticking point is US tariffs on a number of key sectors, including steel, aluminium and automobiles.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Bitter local officials pushed through an ordinance banning automobiles from the Stanford campus and all tourist areas, effectively exiling them from the city.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
