vehicle

noun ve·hi·cle \ ˈvē-ə-kəl also ˈvē-ˌhi-kəl \

Updated on: 8 Nov 2017

Definition of vehicle

1 :a means of carrying or transporting something

planes, trains, and other vehicles

: such as

a :motor vehicle

b :a piece of mechanized equipment

2 :an agent of transmission :carrier

3 :a medium through which something is expressed, achieved, or displayed

an investment vehicle

; especially :a work created especially to display the talents of a particular performer

4 a :an inert medium (such as a syrup) in which a medicinally active agent is administered

b :any of various media acting usually as solvents, carriers, or binders for active ingredients or pigments

See vehicle defined for English-language learners

See vehicle defined for kids

Examples of vehicle in a Sentence

cars, trucks, and other vehicles
The vehicle's driver was severely injured in the crash.
Have you seen his new car? It's a fine-looking vehicle.
Water and insects can be vehicles of infection.
art as a vehicle for self-expression
Words and pictures are vehicles of communication.
These big-budget movies are star vehicles for well-known actors.

Recent Examples of vehicle from the Web

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s mud-loving stepchild moved 689,000 utility vehicles in the U.S. through October, more than any other brand.

— kyle stock, Bloomberg.com, "The State of the Great American SUV Race, in Three Charts," 3 Nov. 2017
The resident of Charlottesville, Va., has put hundreds of thousands of miles on road vehicles to get his music — and name — out there.

— bob kostanczuk, Post-Tribune, "Singer-songwriter marks decades of performing at Front Porch," 2 Nov. 2017
The Islamic State group has been exhorting its followers to mow down people, and England, France and Germany have seen deadly vehicle attacks in the past year or so.

— colleen long and jake pearson, Esquire, "Everything We Know About the Terror Attack in Lower Manhattan," 1 Nov. 2017
Secondhand vehicles fill vast parking lots in Japan’s port cities, awaiting shipment to New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere.

— The Economist, "On the other handJapanese cars enjoy an afterlife in Myanmar, but not for much longer," 4 Nov. 2017
However, next year, prices will skyrocket at 17 of these parks, rising to $70 for private vehicles and $30 for bike/foot travelers.

— bridget hallinan, Condé Nast Traveler, "The National Park Service Is Raising Entrance Fees to Its Most Popular Parks," 25 Oct. 2017
The 20-year-old is at home resting after sustaining a knee injury and lacerations in an accident with another vehicle.

— sydney scott, Essence.com, "The Quick Read: Hero And Rogue Twitter Employee Briefly Deactivates Trump's Account," 3 Nov. 2017
Investigators are still working to determine which vehicle crossed the center line and why.

— bob strickley, Cincinnati.com, "West Chester man dead after Indiana crash with semi," 2 Nov. 2017
These vehicles can detect obstacles – including pedestrians – and stop or avoid hitting them.

— jeremy straub, Smithsonian, "Computer Systems and Sensors Could Put a Stop To Car-Based Attacks," 4 Nov. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vehicle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of vehicle

borrowed from French & Latin; French véhicule, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin vehiculum "medium, agent of transmission," going back to Latin, "wheeled vehicle, means of transport," from vehere "to carry, convey" + -culum, instrumental suffix (going back to Indo-European *-tlom) — more at ¹way

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1612

See Words from the same year

vehicle Synonyms

Synonyms

agency, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, ministry, organ, agent

Other Paints and Dyes Terms

bloom, craze, medium, size

VEHICLE Defined for English Language Learners

vehicle

noun

Definition of vehicle for English Language Learners

: a machine that is used to carry people or goods from one place to another
: the thing that allows something to be passed along, expressed, achieved, or shown