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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.


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

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of dump truck

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30


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.

See Examples For:

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

He’s got a dump truck full of Emmys, and he’s trying to line up something for ‘Malcolm,’ ” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 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

We sat in the cab of his dad’s dump truck and tore open the bags: beef stew, applesauce, shrink-wrapped crackers, little packets of strawberry jam, iced-tea mix, and hot chocolate.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

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