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cabriolet

American  
[kab-ree-uh-ley] / ˌkæb ri əˈleɪ /

noun

  1. a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage with a folding top, capable of seating two persons.

  2. an automobile resembling a coupe but with a folding top.


cabriolet British  
/ ˌkæbrɪəʊˈleɪ /

noun

  1. a small two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with two seats and a folding hood

  2. a former name for a drophead coupé

"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 cabriolet

1760–70; < French: literally, little caper; so called from its light movement. See cabriole, -et

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.

BMW decided to use the same running gear in this racing car and put it in the underpowered 327 road car to create a high-performance sports cabriolet, and that is where the 327/28 comes from.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2025

To complete the swap, Mr. Mann restored the Franay cabriolet coachwork to the 145.

From New York Times • Apr. 9, 2020

Yes, the G Wagen is a bit obnoxious and, no, a cabriolet version doesn’t make it any more approachable or affordable.

From The Verge • Jan. 18, 2018

The E-Class Coupe starts at $58,900; the cabriolet starts at $62,600.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 5, 2017

Suddenly one morning, as Leonard sat with Burley, a fashionable cabriolet, with a very handsome horse, stopped at the door—a loud knock—a quick step on the stairs, and Randal Leslie entered.

From The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 3, October, 1851 by Various

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