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passenger van

passenger van

2 2.3
A van that carries people rather than goods
  • noun
  • /ˈpæsɪndʒər væn/
  • US
translation icon : furgoneta de pasajeros
  • During our school trip, we traveled comfortably in a large passenger van that seated fifteen people.
  • a 15-passenger van
  • a large passenger van

Examples

  • I recently opened up an after-school child care out of my home and will be picking kids up in a passenger van.

    Blog text (27)
  • After arriving at the airport, we were greeted and taken to our hotel in a spacious passenger van.

  • In front of her was an enormous passenger van, sparkling like jewelry.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And the family vehicle is a 2002 Chevy 15-passenger van, which was needed when we purchased it used.

    Blog text (23)
  • After the orientation meeting, the group was split into four groups and loaded onto 15-passenger vans for transport to the neighborhoods.

    Blog text (32)
  • I work for a company called Russell Redds, Inc., and we got a 15-passenger van reserved.

  • Nearby, two passenger vans are gassed up and ready to take two dozen young area Mormons five hours south to Nauvoo, Ill.

    Blog text (10)
  • It was still pitch dark and drizzling as our 15-passenger van, loaded with 14 passengers, pulled away from Fields Pond Audubon Center.

    Blog text (17)
  • She stops in the middle of the street and wipes her brow with a handkerchief, waving it when a passenger van approaches.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Cicilline may have ruined Providence to the point where it can't provide emergency services to its citizens, but Cicilline's campaign can arrange for a driver with a 12-passenger van to pick up anyone needing a lift to the hospital.

    Blog text (26)

Synonyms

van
vspassenger van
676 1.0

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

is specifically designed or modified to carry people instead of goods
minivan
vspassenger van
  • US
80 1.9

A small van with sliding doors and space for a family

is a broader passenger-carrying vehicle not limited to small family use

How Big

bus
1.0
minibus
4 2.7
passenger van
  • US
2 2.3
minivan
  • US
80 1.9

Surface Forms

passenger van singular

Morphology

passenger + van

The meaning 'a van designed for carrying passengers' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'passenger' (a person traveling) and 'van' (a vehicle). Noun–noun compounding that marks the type or purpose of an object is a common, cross‑linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Passenger van comes from a simple idea: a van fitted with seats for passengers instead of space for goods. So, the name tells you its use — 'a van used to carry people'.