rearview mirror

noun

rear·​view mirror ˈrir-ˌvyü- How to pronounce rearview mirror (audio)
variants or rearview
plural rearview mirrors or rearviews
1
: a mirror (as in an automobile) that gives the driver a view of the area behind a vehicle
The air fresheners that dangle from rearview mirrors have been a ubiquitous accessory in cars for decades.Mike Baker and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs
Another car's headlights appeared in her rearview—the first she'd seen since … turning onto Route 60.Erin Brockovich and C. J. Lyons
2
: past entry 3
used in phrases like in the rearview mirror and in one's rearview mirror
With the midterm elections barely in the rearview mirror, the competition is heating up among states trying to move up in the presidential primary lineup.Alex Seitz-Wald and Natasha Korecki
Siakam was coming off shoulder surgery as well. … But Siakam put all that in his rearview mirror and never looked back, finishing with career highs in rebounds and assists …Mike Ganter
After Zayn Malik abruptly departed from One Direction in 2015, he largely left the band in his rearview.Larisha Paul
… [rappers] Killer Mike and El-P, both of whom had left rap's zeitgeist in their rearviews long ago …Tom Breihan

Examples of rearview mirror in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With Severance Season 2 in the rearview mirror, the acclaimed actor Adam Scott reflects on the music—R.E.M., U2, Vampire Weekend, Waxahatchee, and more—that has shaped his life. Jeremy D. Larson, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2025 With the first wave of free agency in the rearview mirror and the Dallas Cowboys putting scouting focus on the draft class ahead, a big task still remains at the top of the front office’s agenda. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2025 That’s in response to the European Union reinstating an import tax on American whiskey — which, along with California almonds and rearview mirrors from Michigan, will be among some of the products hardest hit by the EU’s tariffs. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025 The rosary, dating back to the Middle Ages and popularized in the 16th century, remains one of Christianity's most recognizable symbols—whether held by the faithful, hanging from monks' belts, or draped around rearview mirrors. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rearview mirror

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rearview mirror was in 1911

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Cite this Entry

“Rearview mirror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rearview%20mirror. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

rearview mirror

noun
rear·​view mirror ˌri(ə)r-ˌvyü- How to pronounce rearview mirror (audio)
: a mirror (as in a car) that gives a view to the rear

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