windshield

American  

[wind-sheeld, win-] / ˈwɪndˌʃild, ˈwɪn- /

noun

windshields plural

1. a shield of glass, in one or more sections, projecting above and across the dashboard of an automobile.

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windshield British  

/ ˈwɪndˌʃiːld /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): windscreen.  the sheet of flat or curved glass that forms a window of a motor vehicle, esp the front window

2. an object designed to shield something from the wind

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• windshields
  plural

Etymology

Origin of windshield

First recorded in 1900–05; wind ¹ + shield

Explanation

The thick, protective glass at the front of a car is its windshield. If it's hard to see clearly when you're driving, you may need new glasses — or it might just be time to clean the windshield. The word windshield is the North American version of what Brits call the windscreen. Whether you're traveling in a bus, airplane, or taxi, there's a windshield protecting you and the driver (or pilot) from flying debris. Modern windshields are made of extremely strong, shatter-proof glass. When rain falls, pouring against the windshield, be sure to turn on the windshield wipers!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

windshield windshields

I honestly have no idea when or how it happened — I never heard a rock hit the windshield or noticed anything while I was driving.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

In the case of the Telo, while it looks from the outside as if the driver position is close to the windshield, it’s not, actually.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

This unique camera-based system replaces a traditional forward-facing windshield by providing the pilot with a live display view ahead of the aircraft.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 1, 2026

TV pictures showed a white vehicle with a badly damaged windshield and hood, and the street cordoned off and surrounded by emergency vehicles.

From Barron's ● May 4, 2026

Snowflakes flick against the windshield like tiny insects, a few at first, then so many the road disappears.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

With the race cars stripped of fenders and windshields, their drivers were inundated and miserable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

As C scans windshields, front seats, and license plates, they tell me about a recent incident near their home.

From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2026

Or a flock of seagulls harmlessly splashing windshields.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2025

Cameras were first installed on the windshields of some Metro buses last year, but the first tickets were issued in mid-February.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2025

But in my head all I can see are the hot-pink numbers written on the car windshields, and the man in the parka who said “Have a good life” to me and Mom.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy