cabriolet
Americannoun
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a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage with a folding top, capable of seating two persons.
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an automobile resembling a coupe but with a folding top.
noun
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a small two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with two seats and a folding hood
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a former name for a drophead coupé
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
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.