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

A further four will be constructed in Louisiana, with all six using an Aker Arctic Technology diesel-electric powered design.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 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

Where diesel-electric submarines spend half of their time at sea going to from a patrol area, a nuclear-powered submarine would spend 15-20% of its time in transit, he said.

From Reuters • Nov. 28, 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These were Foxtrot class diesel-electric subs, fairly outdated by American standards.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