automotive

adjective

au·​to·​mo·​tive ˌȯ-tə-ˈmō-tiv How to pronounce automotive (audio)
1
: self-propelled
2
: of, relating to, or concerned with self-propelled vehicles or machines

Examples of automotive in a Sentence

The store stocks automotive parts.
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.
The automotive veteran was named CEO of Goodyear after leaving Chrysler parent Stellantis in January 2024. — Michael Wayland, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026 Frank Lenk, director of economic research at the Mid-America Regional Council, said automotive goods are one of Kansas City’s largest exports, and many of those products go back and forth across the border with Canada. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026 China’s automakers are entering the silicon race BYD introduced its 4 nm Xuanji A3 intelligent-driving chip earlier this year, while Nio, Li Auto and XPeng have also developed proprietary automotive processors. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026 The result is an EV that feels technologically advanced without requiring its driver to learn an entirely new automotive language. — Tim Jackson, Denver Post, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for automotive

Word History

Etymology

auto- + motive entry 2

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of automotive was in 1830

Rhymes for automotive

See All Rhymes for automotive

Browse Nearby Words

automorphism
automotive
autonarcosis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Automotive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/automotive. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

automotive

adjective
au·​to·​mo·​tive ˌȯt-ə-ˈmōt-iv How to pronounce automotive (audio)
1
: self-propelled
2
: of, relating to, or concerned with automobiles, trucks, or buses
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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