noun
Uncommon
sedan
suh-DAN
Sedan (noun) means a car with a separate boot and a fixed roof, seating passengers in an enclosed cabin. Example: “They traded in the pickup truck for a family sedan.”
noun
1
A car with a separate boot and a fixed roof, seating passengers in an enclosed cabin.
"They traded in the pickup truck for a family sedan."
2
Historically, an enclosed chair for one person, carried on poles by bearers.
"Wealthy Londoners were once carried through the streets in a sedan."
How to use sedan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA standard passenger car with a closed body and a separate trunk — what Americans usually just call a "car."
UK vs US
In British English this body style is usually called a "saloon," not a sedan.
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Word forms
- Plural
- sedans
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They traded in the pickup truck for a family _____.
Etymology
The "carried chair" sense appeared in the 1630s, possibly linked to a southern Italian word for "seat." The car sense arose much later, in early-1900s North America.
Class of 1630
sedan joined the language around 1630.
See the full Class of 1630 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sedan” mean?
The word “sedan” means a car with a separate boot and a fixed roof, seating passengers in an enclosed cabin. In plain terms, a standard passenger car with a closed body and a separate trunk — what Americans usually just call a "car.".
How do you pronounce “sedan”?
“Sedan” is pronounced suh-DAN (/səˈdæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “sedan” in a sentence?
Here is “sedan” used in a sentence: “They traded in the pickup truck for a family sedan.”
What part of speech is “sedan”?
“Sedan” is a noun.
Where does the word “sedan” come from?
The word “sedan” dates back to around 1630 and comes from Italian. The "carried chair" sense appeared in the 1630s, possibly linked to a southern Italian word for "seat." The car sense arose much later, in early-1900s North America.
Is “sedan” a common word?
“Sedan” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sedan” have?
“Sedan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a car with a separate boot and a fixed roof, seating passengers in an enclosed cabin.
What is the difference between a sedan and a saloon car?
Sedan and saloon refer to the same type of car, a vehicle with a separate boot and a fixed roof enclosing the passenger cabin, but sedan is the American English term while saloon is the British English equivalent.
What is the difference between a sedan and an SUV?
A sedan is a lower-profile car with an enclosed cabin and separate boot, built for passenger comfort and fuel efficiency, while an SUV is taller, has more ground clearance, and is designed for larger cargo capacity and often off-road capability.
Why is a sedan chair called a sedan?
Historically, a sedan referred to an enclosed chair for one person, carried on poles by bearers, a meaning distinct from and older than its modern use for a type of car.
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