vehicle

noun

ve·​hi·​cle ˈvē-ə-kəl 

also

ˈvē-ˌhi-kəl 

1

: a means of carrying or transporting something

planes, trains, and other vehicles

: such as

a

: motor vehicle

b

: a piece of mechanized equipment

2

: an agent of transmission : carrier

3

: a medium through which something is expressed, achieved, or displayed

an investment vehicle

especially : a work created especially to display the talents of a particular performer

4

a

: an inert medium (such as a syrup) in which a medicinally active agent is administered

b

: any of various media acting usually as solvents, carriers, or binders for active ingredients or pigments

Synonyms

• agency
• agent
• instrument
• instrumentality
• machinery
• means
• medium
• ministry
• organ

Examples of vehicle in a Sentence

cars, trucks, and other vehicles

The vehicle's driver was severely injured in the crash.

Have you seen his new car? It's a fine-looking vehicle.

Water and insects can be vehicles of infection.

art as a vehicle for self-expression

Words and pictures are vehicles of communication.

These big-budget movies are star vehicles for well-known actors.

Recent Examples on the Web

City firefighters responded to the 900 block of West Pratt Street for reports of a vehicle into a building around 8:30 p.m. —Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2025

Police released a photo of Dandridge, along with surveillance video footage allegedly showing the 21-year-old exiting the backseat of a white vehicle while carrying an object in one hand and a backpack in the other. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025

State police stopped pursuing the vehicle out of safety concerns for other motorists. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2025

To retrieve the nodules, mining firms plan to send uncrewed collector vehicles down to the bottom of the ocean. —Daniel Ackerman, NPR, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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) — more at way entry 1

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Phrases Containing vehicle

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

Kids Definition

vehicle

noun

ve·​hi·​cle ˈvē-ˌ(h)ik-əl  ˈvē-ə-kəl 

1

: a means by which something is passed along, expressed, achieved, or shown

movies are vehicles of ideas

2

: something used to transport persons or goods

a space vehicle

Medical Definition

vehicle

noun

ve·​hi·​cle ˈvē-ˌ(h)ik-əl  ˈvē-ə-kəl 

1

: an inert medium in which a medicinally active agent is administered

2

: an agent of transmission

a vehicle of infection