air dam

American

noun

Automotive.

a spoiler mounted at the front of an automobile to reduce air flow on the underside of the chassis to increase stability.

air dam British

noun

any device, such as a spoiler, that reduces air resistance and increases the stability of a car, aircraft, etc

"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 air dam

First recorded in 1970–75

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.

Today’s GS 350 F Sport has an odd look with a pinched-in grille and lower air dam, but the test car didn’t draw any attention.

From Washington Times • Aug. 5, 2015

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023