locomotive
2 synonyms and 0 antonyms for locomotive, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The engine unit that pulls the carriages or wagons of a train.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use locomotive
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From French locomotif, built from Latin locō ("from a place") and a Latin-derived word for "moving." Originally a general adjective for anything self-propelling, it narrowed to mean the train engine specifically from around 1814.
Full origin of locomotive →Frequently asked questions
What does “locomotive” mean?
The word “locomotive” means the engine unit that pulls the carriages or wagons of a train. In plain terms, the engine that pulls a train — or, as an adjective, anything to do with moving under one's own power.
How do you pronounce “locomotive”?
“Locomotive” is pronounced loh-kuh-MOH-tihv (/ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “locomotive” in a sentence?
Here is “locomotive” used in a sentence: “A steam locomotive hauled the vintage carriages along the coast.”
What is another word for “locomotive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “locomotive” include loco and engine.
What part of speech is “locomotive”?
Depending on how it is used, “locomotive” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “locomotive” come from?
The word “locomotive” dates back to around 1814 and comes from Latin.
Is “locomotive” a common word?
“Locomotive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “locomotive” have?
“Locomotive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the engine unit that pulls the carriages or wagons of a train.