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noun Uncommon

Surrey

SUH-ree
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Surrey (noun) means a light, open carriage with two facing forward-facing bench seats, originally pulled by a horse; also used loosely for a similarly styled small motorized vehicle. Example: “The old photograph showed the family setting off in a surrey pulled by a single horse.”

noun
1
A light, open carriage with two facing forward-facing bench seats, originally pulled by a horse; also used loosely for a similarly styled small motorized vehicle.
"The old photograph showed the family setting off in a surrey pulled by a single horse."
"Tourists at the resort can rent a surrey to pedal along the boardwalk."

How to use Surrey

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small horse-drawn (or similarly shaped pedal/motorized) carriage with bench seating for two or four people.

Memory tip

You'll mostly meet this word in older novels, or on holiday when renting a four-wheeled pedal cart at the beach.

Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a surrey with a fringe on top ride in a surrey
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Word forms

Plural
surreys
Test yourself on “Surrey” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The old photograph showed the family setting off in a _____ pulled by a single horse.

Etymology

Named after the English county of Surrey, where this style of carriage was originally built.

Synonyms

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carriage buggy

Related words

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Rhymes for Surrey

key hey bey dey ley grey they joey whey obey prey abbey
See all rhymes for Surrey →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Surrey” mean?
The word “Surrey” means a light, open carriage with two facing forward-facing bench seats, originally pulled by a horse; also used loosely for a similarly styled small motorized vehicle. In plain terms, a small horse-drawn (or similarly shaped pedal/motorized) carriage with bench seating for two or four people.
How do you pronounce “Surrey”?
“Surrey” is pronounced SUH-ree (/ˈsɝɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “Surrey” in a sentence?
Here is “Surrey” used in a sentence: “The old photograph showed the family setting off in a surrey pulled by a single horse.”
What part of speech is “Surrey”?
“Surrey” is a noun.
Is “Surrey” a common word?
“Surrey” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a surrey and a buggy?
A surrey is a light, open carriage with two forward-facing bench seats, traditionally pulled by a horse, offering room for more passengers seated facing forward. A buggy is generally a smaller, lighter horse-drawn carriage, often with a single bench seat, making the surrey typically the larger and more family-oriented of the two.
Why is "Surrey" often capitalized?
"Surrey" is capitalized because the carriage's name derives from a proper noun, and dictionaries commonly list it with an initial capital as a result. Even so, it functions as an ordinary common noun describing the type of carriage.
Is a surrey pulled by a horse or motorized?
A surrey was originally a horse-drawn carriage, but the term is also used loosely today for a similarly styled small motorized vehicle. So while its origin is as a horse-drawn carriage, modern usage can extend to motorized versions built in the same style.

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