taxi

5 synonyms for taxi, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A car that can be hired, along with a driver, to take passengers to a destination for a fare.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

cab hack

Rare, literary or technical

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

taxicab hackney minicab

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A car that can be hired, along with a driver, to take passengers to a destination for a fare.

“It was raining hard, so we took a taxi to the theatre.”

cab taxicab hackney minicab hack

2. verb

(of an aircraft) To move slowly along the ground under its own power, before or after flying.

“After landing, the jet taxied slowly towards the gate.”

cab

How to use taxi

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

hail a taxi call a taxi the plane taxied

Etymology

Shortened from "taximeter cab" — taximeter being the fare-calculating meter, from French taximètre, itself from Medieval Latin taxa ("charge, tax").

Full origin of taxi →

Frequently asked questions

What does “taxi” mean?

The word “taxi” means a car that can be hired, along with a driver, to take passengers to a destination for a fare. In plain terms, a car-for-hire with a driver, or — for planes — to move slowly on the ground under engine power.

How do you pronounce “taxi”?

“Taxi” is pronounced TAK-see (/ˈtæksi/ in IPA).

How do you use “taxi” in a sentence?

Here is “taxi” used in a sentence: “We hailed a taxi outside the station.”

What part of speech is “taxi”?

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

Where does the word “taxi” come from?

The word “taxi” comes from Medieval Latin. Shortened from "taximeter cab" — taximeter being the fare-calculating meter, from French taximètre, itself from Medieval Latin taxa ("charge, tax").

Is “taxi” a common word?

“Taxi” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “taxi” have?

“Taxi” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a car that can be hired, along with a driver, to take passengers to a destination for a fare.

What is the difference between a "taxi" and a "cab"?

A taxi is a car hired with a driver to take passengers to a destination for a fare, and "cab" is a common shortened, informal term for the same thing. The two words refer to the same kind of vehicle, with "cab" simply being more casual.

What is the difference between taking a "taxi" and a "rideshare"?

A taxi is a car and driver hired to carry passengers for a fare, traditionally hailed in the street or booked by phone. A rideshare is arranged through an app that connects riders with drivers, so the main difference lies in how the ride is booked and priced rather than the basic service.

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