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minivan

minivan

80 1.9
A small van with sliding doors and space for a family
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪnɪˌvæn/
  • US
translation icon : monovolumen
  • After packing everyone's bags, we loaded them into the spacious minivan for our family road trip.
  • cars and minivans
  • a minivan driver

And they said, we will give you a minivan and free gas.

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Examples

  • We can stay until six, perhaps five-thirty, before catching the last minivan to the ferry.

    Academic text (2007)
  • This was the first minivan to have a power sliding door.

  • And they said, we will give you a minivan and free gas.

  • Well, I'll say that years of being minivan driver, I think, got to us.

  • Or you can get a minivan.

  • I grab the keys and walk Mom to her minivan.

  • Plus, Patel test drove a minivan last week anyway.

  • Chili follows Martin over to the minivan and opens the door for him.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I held onto the door handle as our minivan lurched down the road on worn-out shocks.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • After they explained their plight, everyone piled into the family's minivan and headed toward the nearest town.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

van
vsminivan
676 1.0

A medium-sized vehicle with a closed back used to carry goods or people

is smaller and box shaped and built for family passengers
passenger vehicle
vsminivan
3 2.5

A bus or train that carries many people

is smaller and used for family transport rather than public transit
passenger van
vsminivan
  • US
2 2.3

A van that carries people rather than goods

is smaller and family oriented with removable seats

How Spacious

minibus
4 2.7
van
676 1.0
minivan
  • US
80 1.9
station wagon
  • US
66 2.9
sedan
  • US
77 2.4
compact car
  • US
4 2.8

Surface Forms

minivan singular
minivans plural

Morphology

minivan = mini + van (transparent) = mini + van

The meaning is a straightforward combination of 'mini' (small) + 'van' (vehicle), which directly describes a small van.

Etymology

Minivan is made of mini ('small') and van ('a vehicle for people or things'). So a minivan literally means a 'small van', which is why it refers to a compact, family-friendly passenger vehicle with room for people and luggage.