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Glite Dictionary
subcompact

subcompact

3 4.3
A small car for city driving that uses little fuel
  • noun
  • /ˈsʌbˌkɒmpækt/
  • US
translation icon : subcompacto
  • The Ford Fiesta is a popular choice among young drivers looking for a reliable subcompact car.
  • subcompact car
  • subcompact sedan
  • subcompact hatchback

Examples

  • Many city dwellers prefer a subcompact car due to its excellent fuel efficiency and easy parking.

  • Across the way in the GM booth, the subcompact Chevy Sonic has a big presence once again this year.

    Blog text (19)

  • We're expecting a little subcompact any day now.

    Inspector Gadget (1999)

  • Vehicles that achieve this efficiency level are available for sale today in the subcompact size class.

    Academic text (1999)

  • The elderly couple up ahead is standing by the hood of their subcompact.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The subcompact Toyota Prius C earned Consumer Reports' top score overall.

    Blog text (15)

  • Last year, Chevy showed a concept version of its Sonic subcompact vehicle called the Sonic Dusk.

    Blog text (21)

  • However, Suzuki has previously displayed the Ignis subcompact and even the Wagon R kei car at Canadian auto shows in the past.

    Blog text (16)

  • He watches a man struggling to twine a big Douglas fir to the roof of a subcompact that's too small for it.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The new subcompact model was designed with urban driving in mind, making it perfect for navigating tight streets.

Synonyms

subcompact car
vssubcompact
  • US
3.3

A very small car that is easy to park and uses little fuel

focuses on efficiency and suitability for city driving rather than space
supermini
vssubcompact
  • UK
4.7

A very small car made for city driving and easy parking

emphasizes efficiency and being smaller than a compact rather than parking

Antonyms

full-size
21 2.5

As large as the original or usual model

Compounds

subcompact car
  • US
3.3

A very small car that is easy to park and uses little fuel

How Big

full-size
21 2.5
midsize
  • US
1 3.4
compact car
  • US
4 2.8
subcompact
  • US
3 4.3
minicar
1 3.5

Surface Forms

subcompact singular
subcompacts plural

Morphology

subcompact = compact (transparent) = sub + compact

The meaning is directly derived from the productive prefix 'sub-' (meaning 'under/less') plus 'compact', yielding 'smaller than compact' in car classification.

Etymology

Subcompact comes from the prefix sub- meaning 'under' or 'below' and the word compact, which means 'small' or 'tightly packed'. So a subcompact car is a car 'below' a compact car, meaning it is very small and good for city driving.