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sport utility vehicle

sport utility vehicle

10 3.4
A large car like a truck that can drive on roads and rough ground
  • noun
  • /spɔrt ˈjuːtɪləti ˈviːhɪkl/
translation icon : vehículo utilitario deportivo (SUV)
  • In October 2001, the company launched its Fortera tire for sport utility vehicles.
  • sport utility vehicle (SUV)
  • drive a sport utility vehicle

Examples

  • The town was vibrant, and the streets were crowded with people and their automobiles, sports utility vehicles, and pickup trucks, many of which bore U.S. license plates from Texas, California, Missouri, New Mexico, and most frequently, Illinois.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Many families prefer a sport utility vehicle for its spacious interior and off-road capabilities.

  • Today, the heavy emphasis is on sport utility vehicles.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Putting a diesel in a large sport utility vehicle could provide a 40 to 50 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, he said.

    Academic text (2006)
  • I exited my expensive sport utility vehicle and noticed a dozen others like my own.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Because of its unusual doors, Tesla calls it a sport utility vehicle with Falcon wing doors.

  • Meanwhile, the average vehicle has grown larger and heavier with the craze for sport utility vehicles and noncommercial trucks.

    Academic text (2004)
  • I have a Toyota Sequoia, which is a giant sport utility vehicle that has camouflage fenders.

  • Survey studies have found, for example, that one common response to information about the threats of climate change is a desire to buy a big sports utility vehicle (SUV) as a means of protecting against an unpleasant or unpredictable environment.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The sport utility vehicle easily navigated the rugged terrain during our camping trip.

Synonyms

jeep
vssport utility vehicle
200 1.3

A small strong vehicle with four-wheel drive for rough roads

is larger and built on a truck chassis for more power
SUV
vssport utility vehicle
100 2.7

A large car with more space under it and four-wheel drive for roads and rough ground

is built on a truck chassis and stresses truck-based strength
four-wheel drive
vssport utility vehicle
  • Specialized
16 3.4

A system that powers all four wheels for better grip on rough or slippery ground

is a larger vehicle built on a truck chassis that uses it
automotive vehicle
vssport utility vehicle
1 3.0

A machine with wheels like a car or bus that moves on roads

is a specific large truck-based design for on- and off-road use
4WD
vssport utility vehicle
  • Specialized
3.2

A car or truck that gives power to all four wheels for better grip on rough, slippery roads

is a truck-based large vehicle designed for both road and off-road use

Antonyms

sedan
  • US
77 2.4

A passenger car with a closed body and a separate trunk

4 2.8

A small car that uses little fuel and fits up to five people

How Rugged

off-roader
1 4.5
sport utility vehicle
10 3.4
crossover
5 3.5
compact
6 3.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

sport + utility + vehicle

The parts 'sport' + 'utility' + 'vehicle' compositionally point to a multipurpose vehicle related to sporting or practical use, and many languages use a similar literal compound, so a B1 learner who knows the words will get a reasonable general idea. However, the conventional, technical sense (a large, often four-wheel-drive vehicle built on a truck chassis — "SUV") and its typical size/off-road implications are not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so full meaning requires familiarity.

Etymology

Sport utility vehicle is a name that gives a clear picture: sport suggests 'outdoor use' and rough roads, utility means 'useful for carrying things', and vehicle is a car. So it means a large, powerful car that can carry people and things and handle rough roads, which is why people buy them for family trips and outdoor adventures.