automotive
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to the design, operation, manufacture, or sale of automobiles.
automotive parts.
-
propelled by a self-contained motor, engine, or the like.
noun
adjective
-
relating to motor vehicles
-
self-propelling
Other Word Forms
- nonautomotive adjective
Etymology
Origin of automotive
Explanation
Anything automotive has to do with automobiles — in other words, cars. The automotive industry, for example, is all about making and selling cars. If the windshield wipers fall off your car, get new ones at an automotive store. The word automotive comes from the Greek auto for “self” and motive for “moving," which makes sense for what the word may have meant in the late 1800s — a self-propelled helicopter-like machine for one person. Don’t bother looking for one of those, though, automotive now just refers to car stuff. If you're interested in automotive technology, you might become a mechanic. Or maybe you could figure out how to make one of those little helicopters.
Vocabulary lists containing automotive
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!
"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 1
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.
AI is an opportunity for STMicroelectronics to turn the page after several quarters plagued by a slow automotive business–a key end-market for a company that supplies to Tesla, German parts supplier Continental, and Israel’s Mobileye.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
O’Neill, the incoming CEO, currently sits on the boards of Spotify Technology, Hyatt Hotels and the big automotive retailer Lithia & Driveway.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
"The Chinese manufacturers' strengths are not just labour costs; it's innovation," added Michael Foundoukidis, an automotive analyst at Oddo.
From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026
Revenue from its automotive business increased 16% from the year prior.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
He had worked briefly as an automotive parts salesman, a janitor, a car wash attendant, and a short-order cook at the local A&W fast-food franchise.
From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien
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.
