pretensioner

noun

pre·​ten·​sion·​er ˌprē-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nər 

plural pretensioners

: a mechanism that tightens and locks automobile seatbelts in place in the event of a crash or hard braking

Pretensioners, like air bags, rely on a small explosive charge to tighten belts fast enough to reduce injuries even in high-speed crashes.

—Mark Phelan

Examples of pretensioner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For 1998, its hunky shape has been updated with new front and rear styling and with interior changes that include the addition of seatbelt pretensioners (only the CR-V can match this safety claim). —Don Schroeder, Car and Driver, 29 May 2023

The front seat belt linkage and pretensioners, which tighten the belts before a collision, are anchored to the seat frames, the agency said. —Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2023

Documents posted by the agency Tuesday said the belt linkage and pretensioners, which tighten the belts before a crash, are anchored to the seat frames. —CBS News, 28 Mar. 2023

In these two SUVs a front seatbelt pretensioner, a small device that automatically pulls the seatbelt tight in the event of a crash, became disconnected from the seat frame. —Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 28 Mar. 2023

Consumer Reports reported in June 2022 that the company was recalling 17,000 of its Sorento models due to exploding pretensioners. —Justin Klawans, The Week, 27 Feb. 2023

The pretensioners were not properly secured during assembly, NHTSA said. —Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 28 Mar. 2023

The defect involves the point at which the seat belt pretensioner and an anchor are linked. —Rob Wile, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2023

The South Korean automaker had to recall 239,000 cars in May 2022 over a similar problem with pretensioners in Accent and Elantra models. —Harold Maass, The Week, 28 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

pretension entry 2 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pretensioner

• pensioner