A taxi is a car that you pay to ride in, usually with a driver who takes you directly to your chosen destination. The fare is often measured by distance and time.
It is short for 'taxicab', itself from 'taximeter cab', where 'taximeter' was a device that measured the fare. 'Taximeter' combines French 'taxe' meaning 'charge' and Greek 'metron' meaning 'measure'.
The word 'taxi' hides a tiny machine inside it—the taximeter that used to physically click up your fare as you drove. Modern ride apps kept the idea but replaced the ticking box with silent software and GPS.
While “taxi” itself is neutral, taxi work and taxi usage have been gendered in practice, with male-dominated driver populations and documented safety concerns for women passengers and drivers. These social patterns sometimes surface in narratives and jokes around taxis.
Use gender-neutral terms for drivers and passengers, and avoid stereotypes about women’s safety or competence in taxi contexts.
["cab","ride-hail car","taxi service"]
Women drivers and organizers have played key roles in advocating for safer and more equitable taxi and ride-hail systems, often pushing for policy changes and safety protocols.
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