vehicle
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /vˈiəkəl/
US
- /ˈvihɪkəl/
- /ˈviɪkəl/
Description
- means of transport
- way to carry people or goods
- mode of travel
A vehicle isn't just a car. It's anything used to carry people or goods from one place to another. Think about it: a bicycle can be a vehicle, and so can a train, a ship, or even a wheelbarrow. The word comes from the Latin "vehiculum," meaning a carriage.
You might picture a delivery vehicle bringing packages to your door, or an emergency vehicle rushing to help someone in need. Sometimes "vehicle" is also used in a broader way, like when we talk about something being a "vehicle for change." In that sense, it helps carry an idea, a feeling, or a message forward. It's all about movement and transport, whether it involves real objects or something more abstract.
The word "vehicle" refers to something used to carry people or goods from one place to another. While we often first think of cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and airplanes, the meaning is broader than that. A skateboard, a hot-air balloon, or a canoe can also be called a vehicle because each one helps move someone or something.
Historically, "vehicle" often referred to carts or carriages. Over time, as technology changed, its meaning grew to include many kinds of transport. A space shuttle is a vehicle, and so is a forklift in a warehouse.
Beyond the literal sense, "vehicle" can also be used metaphorically. We might say an artist uses painting as a vehicle for expressing emotion, or that a political campaign serves as a vehicle for change. In these cases, nothing physical is being moved. Instead, the word suggests carrying ideas, feelings, or progress forward.
So whether you're talking about getting to work, shipping goods across the country, or sharing a creative vision with the world, a vehicle is something that carries people, goods, or even ideas from one point to another, either literally or figuratively.
Examples
- 1
Family travel
We need a larger vehicle if we're taking all the kids and their bags.
- 2
Police stop
The police asked the driver to step out of the vehicle.
- 3
Electric transport
Electric vehicles are becoming more common in big cities.
- 4
Company vehicle
Employees can use a company vehicle for business trips.
- 5
Road accident
The damaged vehicle was removed from the road before rush hour.
- 6
Artist outreach
For many young artists, social media is a vehicle for reaching a wider audience.
Pattern
a vehicle for + goal
a means of achieving it
- 7
Public discussion
The documentary became a vehicle for a wider discussion about public health.
Pattern
a vehicle for + idea/discussion
something used to express or carry it
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- vehiclenoun
Forms
- vehiclespluralnoun