designated driver

American  

[des-ig-ney-tid drahy-ver] / ˈdɛs ɪgˌneɪ tɪd ˈdraɪ vər /

noun

1. a person who abstains from alcoholic beverages at a gathering in order to be fit to drive companions home safely. DD

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designated driver British  

noun

1. a person who volunteers not to drink alcohol on a social occasion, so that he or she can safely drive other people who have been drinking

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Etymology

Origin of designated driver

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

designated driver

To have the best experience at Disneyland now, at least one person in every party needs to be the theme-park equivalent of a designated driver, manically booking and revising ride reservations on a phone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

When we first meet her, she’s not a super brave character, she is a rule follower, she is the designated driver, literally and metaphorically.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

Others want to retain the ability to be responsive or responsible for later activities, like serving as a designated driver, operating heavy machinery or being “on-call” for work.

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2024

Which is why it must have made it all the more painful that while others partied the night away, Maryland Republican Senate candidate Larry Hogan was stuck playing designated driver.

From Slate ● Jun. 1, 2024

James, our designated driver, got the bus out of its space and a quarter of the way past the rows of parked vehicles when we heard the police whistle.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers