adjective
Common
automotive
aw-tuh-MOH-tihv
Automotive (adjective) means relating to cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles. Example: “She studied automotive design at college before joining a car company.”
adjective
1
Relating to cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles.
"She studied automotive design at college before joining a car company."
"But electric vehicles and the batteries that made them run became ensnared in corporate scandals, fraud, and monopolistic corruption that shook the confidence of the nation and inspired automotive upstarts."
— Edwin Black (2006)
"He works as an engineer in the automotive industry."
"The town's economy depends heavily on automotive manufacturing."
How to use automotive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with cars and how they're made, sold, or repaired.
Common pairings
automotive industry
automotive parts
automotive engineer
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Word forms
- Plural
- automotives
Fill the gap
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She studied _____ design at college before joining a car company.
Etymology
Formed from auto- ("self") plus motive ("causing movement"), from Latin motivus.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for automotive
See all rhymes for automotive →Frequently asked questions
What does “automotive” mean?
The word “automotive” means relating to cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles. In plain terms, to do with cars and how they're made, sold, or repaired.
How do you pronounce “automotive”?
“Automotive” is pronounced aw-tuh-MOH-tihv (/ˌɔtəˈmoʊtɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “automotive” in a sentence?
Here is “automotive” used in a sentence: “He works as an engineer in the automotive industry.”
What part of speech is “automotive”?
“Automotive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “automotive” come from?
The word “automotive” comes from Latin. Formed from auto- ("self") plus motive ("causing movement"), from Latin motivus.
Is “automotive” a common word?
“Automotive” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "automotive" and "automobile"?
"Automobile" is a noun meaning a car, while "automotive" is an adjective describing anything relating to cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles. You drive an automobile; you work in the automotive industry.
What does the "automotive industry" refer to?
The automotive industry is the collective business of designing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling motor vehicles such as cars and trucks. Here "automotive" describes everything connected with motor vehicles.
What are common phrases that use "automotive"?
"Automotive" appears in fixed phrases such as automotive industry, automotive engineering, automotive parts, and automotive design. In each case it describes something related to the making or servicing of motor vehicles.
What is the difference between "automotive" and "motor"?
Both can describe things relating to vehicles, but "automotive" specifically concerns cars, trucks, and similar motor vehicles and is common in technical or business contexts, while "motor" is broader and more everyday, as in motor vehicle, motorway, or motorbike. "Automotive" is used chiefly as an adjective in industry terms.
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