jalopy

American  

[juh-lop-ee] / dʒəˈlɒp i /

noun

Informal.

plural

jalopies

1. an old, decrepit, or unpretentious automobile.

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jalopy British  

/ dʒəˈlɒpɪ /

noun

1. informal a dilapidated old car

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Etymology

Origin of jalopy

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; origin uncertain

Explanation

A jalopy is an old car that isn't working very well. You'd never call a new, smooth-running car a jalopy. There are a lot of insulting words in English, mostly for people. This insult is for a car: a jalopy is a rundown, beat-up, falling apart car that needs to be replaced. You'll never see a car salesman say "Check out our selection of jalopies!" A jalopy might have been a great car at one point, but it has seen better days.

Example Sentences

Many of us have experienced the insurance-rate sticker shock of upgrading from a beloved old jalopy to something newer and nicer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

But they’ll get there—in the same way a young car-shopper starts with a beat-up old jalopy, he argued, eventually they’ll walk onto the lot in middle age looking for a pricey new Cadillac.

From Slate • May 25, 2025

After all, the whole reason I drive a jalopy manufactured during George W. Bush’s presidency is to have an easier time paying for food.

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2023

She tapped “home” into the control console of her autopod — a jalopy, by modern standards — and pushed “execute.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 13, 2020

He calls me Princess, which really is maybe too much polish for the jalopy, but he means it in the right way, I think.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver