Vehicle

/ˈviːɪkəl/ or /ˈviːəkəl/ noun

Definition

A vehicle is something used for transporting people or goods, such as a car, bus, truck, or train. It usually moves on wheels, but it can also float or fly.

Etymology

From Latin 'vehiculum', meaning 'means of transport', from 'vehere' meaning 'to carry'. The word came into English through French, keeping its basic sense of something that carries.

Kelly Says

We use ‘vehicle’ for cars and trucks, but you also hear ‘a vehicle for change’ or ‘a vehicle for ideas’. The core idea is always the same: something that carries something else. That’s why the root also appears in ‘vector’ and ‘convey’.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.