windshield

American  

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

noun

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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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

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

But China continued to invest in automaking, bolstered by its access to crucial raw materials needed for components such as EV batteries and windshield wipers to work properly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Ford announced almost 2.4 million vehicle recalls in six actions, primarily for backup cameras and windshield wipers.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

The security guard placed a towing warning on the windshield of a silver car that none of the guys knew, and then left for the day.

From Slate • Jan. 27, 2026

Finally, with a great snapping of twigs and thrashing of branches across the windshield, as if the countryside is loath to release them, the car bursts forth onto smooth pavement and the light of day.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez