tow truck

American  

noun

• tow trucks
  plural

1. wrecker.

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tow truck British  

noun

1. Also called: breakdown van.   wrecker.  a motor vehicle equipped for towing away wrecked or disabled cars

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tow trucks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tow truck

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tow truck

Damon Vescovi followed the tow truck ferrying Spivey’s body to the impound lot.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026

Curbside, for instance, has begun training gig workers in how to do quick vehicle fixes that don’t require a tow truck or advanced equipment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026

The video captures a car hooked up to a tow truck and what appears to be its owner running toward their vehicle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2026

“My friend told me that he saw the same white tow truck driving around his neighborhood in Chino, too. This thief is just out there.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2026

There’s a loud clunk as the tow truck operator hooks a chain to ReelTok’s rental car.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman