streetcar

noun

street·​car ˈstrēt-ˌkär How to pronounce streetcar (audio)
: a vehicle on rails used primarily for transporting passengers and typically operating on city streets

Illustration of streetcar

Illustration of streetcar

Examples of streetcar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These powerful forces had no incentive to maintain or improve the old electric streetcar system. Jay L. Zagorsky, WIRED, 24 Aug. 2024 Subway and streetcar operators The U.S. workforce needs people who can operate subways and trains that transport passengers. Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024 After nearly a decade of planning, Ramsey County officials cancelled planning for a streetcar or rapid bus line along West Seventh to MSP Airport and Mall of America. Kyle Stokes, Axios, 10 Sep. 2024 The streetcar currently only runs inside of Tempe on a 3-mile track and provides residents with about 42,000 rides each month as of last year. Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for streetcar 

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of streetcar was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near streetcar

Cite this Entry

“Streetcar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/streetcar. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

streetcar

noun
street·​car -ˌkär How to pronounce streetcar (audio)
: a passenger vehicle that runs on rails and typically operates on city streets

More from Merriam-Webster on streetcar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!