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dragster

American  
[drag-ster] / ˈdræg stər /

noun

  1. an automobile designed and built specifically for drag racing, especially on a ¼-mi. (402-meter) or ⅛-mi. (201-meter) drag strip.

  2. a person who races such an automobile.

dragster British  
/ ˈdræɡstə /

noun

  1. a car specially built or modified for drag racing

"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 dragster

First recorded in 1945–50; drag + -ster

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.

The neon yellow race car whipped around the corner, gunning it in a bid to lose the dragster on its tail.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2025

He had been driving a jet-powered dragster at nearly 320mph while attempting to break the land speed record near York.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2023

Stewart will compete for McPhillips Racing in a Top Alcohol dragster — the equivalent of NASCAR’s second-tier Xfinity Series.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 24, 2022

Force had a final qualifying run of 3.732-seconds at 320.66 mph in her dragster for her first No. 1 qualifier of the year and 21st of her career.

From Washington Times • Apr. 17, 2021

What energy transformations are involved when a dragster engine is revved, its clutch let out rapidly, its tires spun, and it starts to accelerate forward?

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

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.