automobile
Automobile (noun) means a wheeled motor vehicle built to carry a driver and a few passengers under its own power. Example: “The family bought their first automobile in 1965.”
How to Use Automobile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA car — a self-powered vehicle for road travel.
Chiefly an American term; British English usually just says "car."
Word Forms
automobiled past tense, automobiles plural, automobiles singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The family bought their first _____ in 1965.
Etymology
From French automobile, joining Greek autós ("self") with French mobile ("moving"), itself from Latin mobilis.
Rhymes for automobile
See all rhymes for automobile →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “automobile” mean?
The word “automobile” means a wheeled motor vehicle built to carry a driver and a few passengers under its own power. In plain terms, a car — a self-powered vehicle for road travel.
How do you pronounce “automobile”?
“Automobile” is pronounced AW-tuh-muh-beel (/ˈɔː.tə.məˌbil/ in IPA).
How do you use “automobile” in a sentence?
Here is “automobile” used in a sentence: “The family bought their first automobile in 1965.”
What part of speech is “automobile”?
“Automobile” is a noun.
Where does the word “automobile” come from?
The word “automobile” comes from Latin. From French automobile, joining Greek autós ("self") with French mobile ("moving"), itself from Latin mobilis.
Is “automobile” a common word?
“Automobile” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Featured In
Vocabulary lists that include automobile: