locomotive

3 synonyms and 1 antonym 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.

engine

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

loco locomotor

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The engine unit that pulls the carriages or wagons of a train.

“A steam locomotive hauled the vintage carriages along the coast.”

loco engine

2. adj

Relating to movement, or to the power unit that drives a train.

“The disease affected the patient's locomotive ability.”

locomotor

Opposites

stationary

How to use locomotive

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

steam locomotive diesel locomotive locomotive engine

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.

People also searched

engine stationary loco

Nearby words

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