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Showing results for motor vehicle. Search instead for Modern vehicles.
Synonyms

motor vehicle

American  
[moh-ter vee-i-kuhl, vee-hi-] / ˈmoʊ tər ˈvi ɪ kəl, ˈvi hɪ- /

noun

  1. an automobile, truck, bus, or similar motor-driven conveyance.


motor vehicle British  

noun

  1. a road vehicle driven by a motor or engine, esp an internal-combustion engine

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of motor vehicle

First recorded in 1885–90

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:

“Unlike lifesaving, and mandated, technologies like air bags, seat belts, electronic stability control and headlights, analog AM radio does not contribute to motor vehicle safety,” Bozzella said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

The cemeteries, neighborhood councils and clergy leaders had opposed the loss of motor vehicle lanes, saying it would cause a traffic nightmare.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Among major categories, retail sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers were down 1.8 percent from the prior month.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

“Boy, don’t you know you gotta be 16-years-old to operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth of Kentucky?” he asked.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026

The motor vehicle is another invention whose uses seem obvious today.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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