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.
Advocates invoke viral historic images of Kansas City that show what downtown used to look like before the highways were built, and could be again with the North Loop removed: dense neighborhoods with streetcar access and a variety of businesses with people in the streets. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2025 Mayor Andre Dickens has changed course on Beltline rail, scrapping support for MARTA's streetcar expansion to the Eastside Trail in the near future. — Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025 Critics had also cited the streetcar option’s $2 billion price tag and impact on West Seventh businesses, including the loss of on-street parking. — Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2025 Just one mile from Bourbon Street, the city’s train station connects to much of its downtown via streetcar, enabling rail travelers to travel easily between attractions. — Linnea Bailey, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 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

Rhymes for streetcar

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streetcar
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Cite this Entry

“Streetcar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/streetcar. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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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

Nglish: Translation of streetcar for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about streetcar

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