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:
Most humanoid robots are currently used for industrial applications in confined spaces, such as automobile factories or storage warehouses.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The U.S. may be very competitive in automobile production, but it is so much more competitive in the production of microprocessors that it pays to import autos and export microprocessors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
One of park officials’ most significant management challenges started when tourists began entering Yosemite by automobile.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Chinese car manufacturers are gobbling up European market share, especially in electric vehicles, and are rapidly expanding market share at the expense of the European automobile companies.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
‘I’ve worked as a weaver and loom-fixer. I’ve worked in garages and an automobile assembly shop. All sorts of different things.’
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
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
Increased congestion means that modern automobiles travel more slowly through cities than they did in the 1980s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 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
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
However, now, staring into the endless snarl of automobiles, she’s starting to wish they had named her Patience.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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.
