rearview mirror

American

[reer-vyoo] / ˈrɪərˌvju /

noun

a mirror mounted on the side, windshield, or instrument panel of an automobile or other vehicle to provide the driver with a view of the area behind the vehicle.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

rearview mirrors

plural

Etymology

Origin of rearview mirror

First recorded in 1925–30; rear ¹ + view

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:

rearview mirror

"I am actually seeing the trend in inflation moving slowly down as some of the effects of the tariffs move into the rearview mirror."

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

The point of no return is already in the rearview mirror, and the road ahead is flanked by pain.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

In 1961, when World War II was in the rearview mirror, Britain applied to join what’s now called the European Union.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026

To assume that future returns will be high because recent returns have been high would be like driving a car down the road while looking only in the rearview mirror.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026

I could see Mom watching Connor in the rearview mirror.

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023