English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

chauffeur

sho-FUR

Chauffeur (noun) means someone employed to drive a car for another person, often in a formal or luxury setting. Example: “A chauffeur was waiting at the airport with a sign bearing her name.”

noun
1
Someone employed to drive a car for another person, often in a formal or luxury setting.
"A chauffeur was waiting at the airport with a sign bearing her name."
"The company car came with a chauffeur for important clients."
verb
1
To drive someone around as their driver.
"He chauffeured his boss to meetings all over the city."

How to Use Chauffeur

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA professional or personal driver, especially one who drives someone else around as a job.

Common pairings
a private chauffeur chauffeur-driven car chauffeur someone around

Word Forms

chauffeured past tense, chauffeurs plural, Chauffeurs plural, chauffeurs singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “chauffeur” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ was waiting at the airport with a sign bearing her name.

Etymology

Borrowed from French chauffeur, literally "one who heats" — from the days of steam-powered cars, when the driver had to stoke the engine.

Origin: French

drive around

Rhymes for chauffeur

See all rhymes for chauffeur →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “chauffeur” mean?

The word “chauffeur” means someone employed to drive a car for another person, often in a formal or luxury setting. In plain terms, a professional or personal driver, especially one who drives someone else around as a job.

How do you pronounce “chauffeur”?

“Chauffeur” is pronounced sho-FUR (/ʃoʊˈfɝ/ in IPA).

How do you use “chauffeur” in a sentence?

Here is “chauffeur” used in a sentence: “A chauffeur was waiting at the airport with a sign bearing her name.”

What part of speech is “chauffeur”?

Depending on how it is used, “chauffeur” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “chauffeur” come from?

The word “chauffeur” comes from French. Borrowed from French chauffeur, literally "one who heats" — from the days of steam-powered cars, when the driver had to stoke the engine.

Is “chauffeur” a common word?

“Chauffeur” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “chauffeur” have?

“Chauffeur” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone employed to drive a car for another person, often in a formal or luxury setting.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial