noun
minivan
Minivan (noun) means a compact van, typically used to transport families or small groups. Example: “They packed the whole family into the minivan for the road trip.”
noun
1
A compact van, typically used to transport families or small groups.
"They packed the whole family into the minivan for the road trip."
How to use minivan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA medium-sized van built for carrying passengers, especially popular with families.
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Word forms
- Plural
- minivans
- Third person singular
- minivans
- Past tense
- minivanned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They packed the whole family into the _____ for the road trip.
Etymology
From "mini-" plus "van"; the vehicle class became especially popular in the United States during the 1980s as an alternative to the station wagon.
Class of 1980
minivan joined the language around 1980.
See the full Class of 1980 →
Rhymes for minivan
See all rhymes for minivan →Frequently asked questions
What does “minivan” mean?
The word “minivan” means a compact van, typically used to transport families or small groups. In plain terms, a medium-sized van built for carrying passengers, especially popular with families.
How do you use “minivan” in a sentence?
Here is “minivan” used in a sentence: “They packed the whole family into the minivan for the road trip.”
What part of speech is “minivan”?
“Minivan” is a noun.
Where does the word “minivan” come from?
The word “minivan” dates back to around 1980. From "mini-" plus "van"; the vehicle class became especially popular in the United States during the 1980s as an alternative to the station wagon.
