prius

¹ American  

[prahy-uhs] / ˈpraɪ əs /

adjective

1. (in prescriptions) before; former.

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Prius ² American  

[pree-uhs] / ˈpri əs /

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.

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Etymology

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

In the backseat of her county car – a white Toyota Prius – is a bulletproof vest, which she says she rarely uses.

From Los Angeles Times

Gonzales wouldn’t greet her first-graders until 7:55, but she stepped out under an inky sky and left in her Toyota Prius at 6 o’clock sharp.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Literature

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From The Wall Street Journal