diesel-electric

American  

[dee-zuhl-i-lek-trik, -suhl-] / ˈdi zəl ɪˈlɛk trɪk, -səl- /

Or Diesel-electric

adjective

1. having an electric motor powered directly by an electric generator or by batteries charged by the generator, with the generator being driven by a diesel engine.

   a diesel-electric locomotive.

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diesel-electric British  

noun

1. a locomotive fitted with a diesel engine driving an electric generator that feeds electric traction motors

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adjective

1. of or relating to such a locomotive or system

Etymology

Origin of diesel-electric

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

diesel-electric

The ship and three others still under construction are smaller than CalMac's last new vessel, the dual-fuel Glen Sannox, and use a conventional diesel-electric propulsion system with some battery power available while manoeuvring.

From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026

Nuclear-powered subs have greater range and endurance than Australia’s current fleet of diesel-electric subs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2025

The submarine shown in state media reports on Friday appears to be a reworked diesel-electric powered Romeo-class Russian submarine — a model dating back to the 1950s.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 8, 2023

Off the coast of New Hampshire, the diesel-electric submarine USS Squalus was on a test dive in March 1939 when a valve failure caused a portion of the sub to flood.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 22, 2023

These were Foxtrot class diesel-electric subs, fairly outdated by American standards.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin