dump truck

American  

Or dumptruck

noun

dump trucks plural

1. a usually open-topped truck having a body that can be tilted to discharge its contents, as sand or gravel, through an open tailgate.

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dump truck British  

/ ˈdʌmpə- /

noun

1. a small truck used on building sites, having a load-bearing container at the front that can be tipped up to unload the contents

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dump trucks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dump truck

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Example Sentences

In one case, dozens of fans scaled a city dump truck, deployed as a security measure, to catch a glimpse of the passing players and trophy.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

Despite Tonka’s appeal, the 145% duties this spring drove up the cost of the mighty dump truck beyond what Foreman figured consumers would pay for a mass-market toy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2025

Save for the wagon full of bits and tools the National Alliance to End Homelessness and outreach workers were able to save from the dump truck, everything else was thrown away.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2025

They walked about 60 metres and heard a loud crash noise "like a rock falling, like a dump truck had dropped a load of rocks" at 18:02.

From BBC • Sep. 4, 2025

Maybe she wasn’t tough enough to whip Mr. Griswald, but she could drive a dump truck and operate a bulldozer as good as any man.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings