Vehicle — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈvē-ə-kəl/ ve·hi·cle

Meaning & Definition of Vehicle

Vehicle (noun)

  1. a means of carrying or transporting something
  2. motor vehicle
  3. a piece of mechanized equipment

Vehicle (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something used to achieve an end

    "used organized protests as a vehicle for change"

    similar: agency, agent, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, ministry, organ
    related: determinant, expedient, factor, influence, ingredient, mechanism, tool, weapon, activator, animator, catalyst, driver, energizer, executor, generator, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, instigator, launcher, mover, power, stimulus, trigger, antecedent, cause, occasion, reason, subagency, subagent

  2. something used to carry goods or passengers

    "bought a larger vehicle after they had a third baby"

    similar: conveyance, transport, transportation
    related: carrier, hauler, mover, transit

Related Entry: Motor vehicle (noun)

Motor vehicle is a different word from Vehicle. The synonyms below are for motor vehicle, not for vehicle.

  1. a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels

    "got a license to drive a motor vehicle the minute she turned 16"

    similar: auto, automobile, bus, car, horseless carriage, machine, motor, motorcar, wheels (slang)
    related: coach, jitney, microbus, minibus, minivan, omnibus, van, convertible, fastback, hardtop, hatchback, notchback, ragtop, sports car, sport-utility vehicle, station wagon, SUV, town car, wagon, woody, compact, coupe, intermediate, limousine, mini, minicar, sedan, subcompact, V-8, gas-guzzler, land yacht, muscle car, stock car, turbocar, beater, clunker, crate, flivver, jalopy, junker, cream puff, phaeton, roadster, tin lizzie, touring car, hybrid

Related Entry: Recreational vehicle (noun)

Recreational vehicle is a different word from Vehicle. The synonyms below are for recreational vehicle, not for vehicle.

  1. a motor vehicle that is specially equipped for living while traveling

    "sales of recreational vehicles typically go down when gas prices go up"

    similar: camper, caravan, motor home, RV, trailer
    related: house trailer, mobile home, coach, van

Related Entry: Air-cushion vehicle (noun)

Air-cushion vehicle is a different word from Vehicle. The synonyms below are for air-cushion vehicle, not for vehicle.

  1. as in aircraft, ship

    similar: aerodyne, aircraft, airframe, airship, ship, tractor, aeroplane (chiefly British), airplane, helicopter, plane, airliner, air taxi, liner, freighter, tanker, jet, jetliner, superjet, supersonic, supersonic transport, trijet, turbojet, turboprop, aerospace plane, rocket plane, bomber, fighter, jump jet, torpedo bomber, warplane, amphibian, seaplane, biplane, lightplane, tilt-rotor, towplane, trimotor, triplane

  2. as in airboat, hovercraft

    similar: airboat, hovercraft, cockleshell, tub, hydrofoil, hydroplane, banker, coble, dragger, gillnetter, hooker, lugger, scalloper, seiner, shrimper, trawler, whaleboat, whaler, workboat, assault boat, PT boat, torpedo boat, ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi, towboat, tug, tugboat, barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, narrow boat (British), auxiliary, bumboat, cutter, jolly boat, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl, houseboat, riverboat

Related Entry: Sport-utility vehicle (noun)

Sport-utility vehicle is a different word from Vehicle. The synonyms below are for sport-utility vehicle, not for vehicle.

  1. as in sports car, wagon

    similar: convertible, fastback, hardtop, hatchback, notchback, ragtop, sports car, station wagon, SUV, town car, wagon, woody, coach, jitney, microbus, minibus, minivan, omnibus, van, compact, coupe, intermediate, limousine, mini, minicar, sedan, subcompact, V-8, auto, automobile, bus, car, horseless carriage, machine, motor, motorcar, motor vehicle, wheels (slang), gas-guzzler, land yacht, muscle car, stock car, turbocar, beater, clunker, crate, flivver, jalopy, junker, cream puff, phaeton, roadster, tin lizzie, touring car, hybrid

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Vehicle

The most common words with a similar meaning to Vehicle:

agency, agent, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, ministry, organ, conveyance, transport, transportation

Related Words for Vehicle

determinant, expedient, factor, influence, ingredient, mechanism, tool, weapon, activator, animator, catalyst, driver, energizer, executor, generator, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, instigator, launcher, mover, power, stimulus, trigger, antecedent, cause, occasion, reason, subagency

Origin & Etymology of Vehicle

borrowed from French & Latin; French véhicule, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin vehiculum "medium, agent of transmission," going back to Latin, "wheeled vehicle, means of transport," from vehere "to carry, convey" + -culum, instrumental suffix (going back to Indo-European *-tlom) way:1

First known use: 1612

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Vehicle

Words & Phrases Containing Vehicle

air-cushion vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, launch vehicle, motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, sport utility vehicle, heavy goods vehicle, wave down (a vehicle)

Frequently Asked Questions about Vehicle

What does "Vehicle" mean?

"Vehicle" means a means of carrying or transporting something. As a noun, it is defined as: a means of carrying or transporting something. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Vehicle"?

Other words for "Vehicle" include agency, agent, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium and ministry. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Vehicle" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Vehicle"?

There are 46 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Vehicle". Common alternatives include agency, agent, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, ministry, organ and conveyance.

How do you use "Vehicle" in a sentence?

Examples of "Vehicle" in a sentence: "used organized protests as a vehicle for change"; "bought a larger vehicle after they had a third baby".

Is "Vehicle" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Vehicle" is a noun.

Is "Vehicle" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Vehicle" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Vehicle"?

"Vehicle" is pronounced /ˈvē-ə-kəl/ and divided into syllables as ve·hi·cle.

What is the origin of the word "Vehicle"?

"Vehicle" comes from borrowed from French & Latin; French véhicule, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin vehiculum "medium, agent of transmission," going back to Latin, "wheeled vehicle, means of transport," from vehere "to carry, convey" + -culum, instrumental suffix (going back to Indo-European *-tlom) way:1. First known use: 1612.