sedan

¹ American  

[si-dan] / sɪˈdæn /

noun

1. an enclosed automobile body having two or four doors and seating four or more persons on two full-width seats.

2. sedan chair.

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Sedan ² American  

[si-dan, suh-dahn] / sɪˈdæn, səˈdɑ̃ /

noun

1. a city in NE France, on the Meuse River: defeat and capture of Napoleon III 1870.

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sedan ¹ British  

/ sɪˈdæn /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): saloon.  a closed two-door or four-door car with four to six seats

2. short for sedan chair

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Sedan ² British  

/ sədɑ̃, sɪˈdæn /

noun

1. a town in NE France, on the River Meuse: passed to France in 1642; a Protestant stronghold (16th–17th centuries); scene of a French defeat (1870) during the Franco-Prussian War and of a battle (1940) in World War II, which began the German invasion of France. Pop: 20 548 (1999)

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Etymology

Origin of sedan

First recorded in 1625–35; of obscure origin

Explanation

A sedan is a car that seats at least four people. You might dream of getting a sports car when you're 16, but it's more likely that your parents will loan you the keys to their sedan. In the 17th century, a sedan was "a covered chair on poles," a fancy way for one person to ride, carried by at least four people. Today's sedan seats four, and it's powered by gasoline or electricity. Since about 1912, the word sedan has been used most often for talking about an automobile. The word is rooted in the Latin sedere, "sit."

Example Sentences

Shortly after the success of Tesla’s Model S sedan, for example, Musk began making plans for building a giant battery factory.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

McNeill, who left Tesla in 2018, was a key deputy during Tesla’s struggle to develop the game-changing Model 3 sedan and ramp production of the Model X SUV.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The sedan is a brash bet that the two old-guard brands can succeed where others have struggled.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

In December, Lilly’s 2012 Mercedes C-Class sedan was spotted by a plate-recognition camera that identified the vehicle as belonging to a wanted person, according to a police report.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

The next car, a banged-up red sedan, went past them in a cloud of exhaust fumes.

From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty

Related Words

• auto
• automobile
• bus
• convertible
• jeep
• limousine
• machine
• motor
• pickup
• ride
• station wagon
• truck
• van
• wagon