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front-wheel drive

American  
[fruhnt hweel, -weel] / ˈfrʌnt ˌʰwil, -ˌwil /

noun

Automotive.
  1. a drive system in which engine power is transmitted through the front wheels only.


Etymology

Origin of front-wheel drive

First recorded in 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.

It is front-wheel drive, with independent front suspension, hydraulic brakes and pop-up headlights.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

In other words, the trains operate like an all-wheel drive rather than just a front-wheel drive.

From Science Daily • Jun. 19, 2024

The 2025 Camry will combine a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric drive system tuned to deliver more power in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of the car, Toyota said.

From Reuters • Nov. 15, 2023

Chevy isn’t going light on the options for the Blazer EV: buyers can choose between front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive models.

From The Verge • Jul. 19, 2022

Although the hybrid engine is only available with front-wheel drive, so if you plan on taking it off-road or live in a cold climate, you might want to reconsider.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 13, 2022

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