tow truck

American  

noun

1. wrecker.

---

tow truck British  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of tow truck

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

The axles use open differentials and brake-based torque vectoring to articulate power left or right—an ability that could make the difference between getting to the ski resort or glumly waiting for a tow truck.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

Then all that’s left is the long, sad ride in the cab of a tow truck.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

“The only way I know it was a tow truck was because of our home cameras. It’s the same strategy, backing up and taking the car in minutes,” Zavala said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2026

When Big Time reached the street a man was arguing with a policeman while a tow truck hooked up his car.

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers