automobile
Americannoun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of automobile
1865–70; < French: literally, self-movable (vehicle). See auto- 1, mobile
Explanation
An automobile is a car: a vehicle with four wheels and an internal combustion engine. The automobile is one of the most common ways to travel. Thanks in part to Henry Ford, automobiles are just about everywhere: in cities, small towns, and even in rural areas, where it's too far to walk from place to place and there's very little public transportation. Trucks, vans, buses, and limousines are bigger than the typical automobile, but they’re automobiles, too. A motorcycle isn't an automobile because it only has two wheels. Automobiles are good for getting around, but they also cause pollution and automobile accidents.
Vocabulary lists containing automobile
To Thine Own Self Be True: Auto
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Frankenwords: Words with Roots from Different Languages
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: auto-
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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:
Most humanoid robots are currently used for industrial applications in confined spaces, such as automobile factories or storage warehouses.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
One of park officials’ most significant management challenges started when tourists began entering Yosemite by automobile.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
I traveled the country by plane, train, and automobile and spent 17 days eating some of the best food I had ever encountered.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
The magnets are crucial components of the electronics, automobile and defense industries, and demand is booming amid growing adoption of electronic vehicles, drones and other advanced technologies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
So what if I can speak firsthand about the Spanish flu, the advent of the automobile, world wars, cold wars, guerrilla wars, and Sputnik—that’s all ancient history now.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
Canadian premiers have said repeatedly that the boycott will be lifted if the US removes its tariffs on key Canadian sectors, including metals and automobiles.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Many companies, grappling with the affordability of goods from automobiles to prescription drugs and groceries, have looked for ways to keep a lid on costs to appeal to cash-starved consumers and get ahead of rivals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
The move is likely to fuel uncertainty for businesses, given the deep integration across North American supply chains in sectors like automobiles.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
For Canada, a major sticking point is US tariffs on a number of key sectors, including steel, aluminium and automobiles.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Similarly, the small birds in the rest areas began to learn that the automobiles and trucks that came roaring in brought with them a wonderful smorgasbord of insects caught and carried in their radiator grilles.
From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
