locomotive

American  

[loh-kuh-moh-tiv] / ˌloʊ kəˈmoʊ tɪv /

noun

1. a self-propelled, vehicular engine, powered by steam, a diesel, or electricity, for pulling or, sometimes, pushing a train or individual railroad cars.

2. an organized group cheer, usually led by a cheerleader, as at a football or basketball game, that begins slowly and progressively increases in speed in such a way as to suggest a steam locomotive.

3. Archaic. any self-propelled vehicle.

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adjective

1. of or relating to locomotives.

2. of, relating to, or aiding in locomotion or movement from place to place.

   the locomotive powers of most animals.

3. moving or traveling by means of its own mechanism or powers.

4. serving to produce such movement; adapted for or used in locomotion.

   locomotive organs.

5. having the power of locomotion.

   an animal that is locomotive at birth.

locomotive British  

/ ˌləʊkəˈməʊtɪv /

noun

1. 1. Also called: locomotive engine.  a self-propelled engine driven by steam, electricity, or diesel power and used for drawing trains along railway tracks

   2. ( as modifier )

      a locomotive shed

      a locomotive works

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adjective

1. of or relating to locomotion

2. moving or able to move, as by self-propulsion

Other Word Forms

• locomotively adverb
• locomotiveness noun
• locomotivity noun
• unlocomotive adjective

Etymology

Origin of locomotive

1605–15; < Latin locō, ablative of locus place + motive (adj.); compare Medieval Latin in locō movērī to change position

Explanation

A locomotive is a train car that pulls the other cars along the track. It's most common to see a locomotive at the front or back of the train—and sometimes both. On a freight train, every single car is loaded with cargo that's being transported—like grain, steel, coal, or lumber—except for the locomotive. Its only job is to power the entire train, either pulling it, or pushing it from the rear. As an adjective, locomotive means "relating to movement," like the locomotive power of a vehicle. This word comes from the Latin roots loco, "from a place," and motivus, "moving."

Example Sentences

WCR supplied film-maker Warner Bros with the locomotive and carriages for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter film series.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Outlets including the Andover Advertiser and Hampshire Chronicle in southern England have been using AI to draft entire articles on topics like problems at a local nursing home and the return of a historic locomotive.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

The report emphasizes that central banks will be the primary locomotive for the expected appreciation, contributing 14 out of the 17 percentage points increase.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 22, 2026

The long-standing model cast CENP-E as the locomotive pulling lagging chromosomes into place.

From Science Daily • Dec. 10, 2025

Sometimes the tail of the train hasn’t left one tunnel before the locomotive dives into another.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Related Words

• engine