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

The 2025 Prius Plug-in Hybrid is priced at $33,375 and has 44 miles of battery power.

From Los Angeles Times

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid is a particularly good value for drivers who don’t go more than 40 miles in one day and can charge frequently, said iSeeCars.com analyst Karl Brauer.

From Los Angeles Times

Toyota has revamped its Prius model, which once had a bad reputation for its appearance and low power.

From Los Angeles Times

The Prius Plug-in has 220 horsepower and can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds.

From Los Angeles Times

Edmunds rated the Prius Plug-in Hybrid an 8.5 out of 10 for performance, 7.5 out of 10 for comfort and a 9.5 out of 10 for fuel economy.

From Los Angeles Times