Loaner

/ˈloʊnər/ noun

Definition

Something, usually a car or item, that is borrowed temporarily or given to someone as a replacement while their own is being repaired.

Etymology

From 'loan' (to give temporarily) + '-er' (agent noun suffix). The term became common in the 20th century with car culture, particularly in auto repair shops.

Kelly Says

The 'loaner car' became part of modern American culture only after the 1960s, when car repairs started taking multiple days and dealerships realized they needed a system to keep customers happy—it's a surprisingly recent social invention.

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