station wagon

American  

noun

1. an automobile with one or more rows of folding or removable seats behind the driver and no luggage compartment but an area behind the seats into which suitcases, parcels, etc., can be loaded through a tailgate.

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station wagon British  

noun

1. British term: estate car.  a car with a comparatively long body containing a large carrying space, reached through a rear door: usually the back seats can be folded forward to increase the carrying space

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Etymology

Origin of station wagon

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Compare meaning

How does station-wagon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• station wagon vs. hatchback

Example Sentences

Dawn has reported on airlines and travel for three decades and has been doling out travel tips since an eighth grade trip from Connecticut to Disney World in the family station wagon.

From The Wall Street Journal

And this was an especially good flat tire, because there were seven kids in the car-pool station wagon, and four of them started to cry—not Sam, of course.

From Literature

She walked around to the back of the station wagon and opened the door.

From Literature

Our wood-paneled station wagon will be waiting at the other end.

From Salon

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” feels like a tricked-out station wagon with James Cameron at the wheel speeding us to his favorite spot in the galaxy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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