roadworthy

American  

[rohd-wur-thee] / ˈroʊdˌwɜr ði /

adjective

roadworthier, roadworthiest

1. in suitable operating condition or meeting accepted standards for safe driving on the road.

   a roadworthy automobile.

---

roadworthy British  

/ ˈrəʊdˌwɜːðɪ /

adjective

1. (of a motor vehicle) mechanically sound; fit for use on the roads

---

noun

1. a certificate of roadworthiness for a motor vehicle

Other Word Forms

• roadworthiness
  noun
• unroadworthy
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of roadworthy

First recorded in 1810–20; road + -worthy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

roadworthy roadworthier

Here’s one risk of customer pay: Some price-conscious drivers may be tempted to cut corners by buying parts that may be cheaper, but aren’t as roadworthy.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 23, 2025

As we stop for gas with almost two weeks to go before November 5th, we’re kicking the tires of American democracy to see if it’s roadworthy.

From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2024

Meanwhile advances in virtual engineering allow even small teams of engineers to develop roadworthy vehicles using software to design, engineer and test prototypes.

From Reuters ● Apr. 15, 2019

They may be so economically pinched that it is the only roadworthy vehicle they can afford.

From New York Times ● Dec. 27, 2018

The students walked for miles to get to the school or took their chances each morning in barely roadworthy buses that made the rounds in the outer reaches of Prince Edward County.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Those major improvements would have been enough for me, but the c550 has additional functions that make it roadworthier still.

From Time Magazine Archive