prius

¹

[prahy-uhs]

adjective

1. (in prescriptions) before; former.

Prius

²

[pree-uhs]

noun

Trademark.

plural

Prius, Prii 

1. a brand of hybrid car, one of the first commercially successful, that runs at lower speeds on an electric motor powered by a battery pack, and at higher speeds on a gasoline engine, which can also recharge the battery.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prius¹

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1890–95

Origin of prius²

1997; from the Latin prius meaning “coming before”; also related to such English words as “prior” and “primary”

Example Sentences

Autumn is still inside waiting for me to join her, even though her parents have already retreated into their shiny Prius.

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The state’s aggressive emission rules were pivotal in pushing automakers toward electric vehicles, with Toyota largely developing its Prius for California’s market.

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I could probably answer half of my reader mail with the words “Toyota Prius.”

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Toyota instead focused on gas-electric hybrid vehicles, a technology it pioneered with the Prius.

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From surveillance footage, detectives identified the suspect’s car as a black Toyota Prius.

Read more on Los Angeles Times