automobile
gb/ˈɔtoʊmoʊbˌil/ us/ˈɔtoʊmoʊbˌil/
B1
English
~ 5800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
B1
entity
1
Motor vehicle used for road travel
A motor vehicle with four wheels that people use to travel on roads; a car.
Common mistake:
Learners often think 'automobile' and 'car' have different meanings. In modern English, they usually refer to the same thing, but 'car' is much more common in everyday conversation and 'automobile' sounds more formal or technical.
Synonyms
car (More common and less formal in everyday speech.)
|
motor vehicle (More general; can include trucks, buses, and other powered vehicles, not only passenger cars.)
Antonyms
bicycle (A common personal vehicle that does not use a motor and is powered by the rider.)
Collocations
drive an automobile
|buy an automobile
|own an automobile
|automobile accident
|automobile insurance
|automobile manufacturer
Themes
transportation
|daily life
|technology
|daily_life
Examples
- He parked his automobile in the garage before going inside.
- The new law requires every automobile to pass an emissions test.
- She prefers a small automobile because it is easier to park in the city.
- The classic automobile drew a lot of attention at the show.
Learner examples
- He bought a new automobile last year.
- My father drives an automobile to work every day.
- This automobile is very old but still runs well.
- They rented an automobile for their vacation.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
2
The automobile industry or sector
The group of companies and jobs that make and sell automobiles.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that 'the automobile' can mean the whole industry, not just a single car. Context usually makes this clear: if it is used with words like 'industry', 'sector', or in economic discussions, it refers to the business field.
Synonyms
auto industry (Shorter, very common term in business and news writing.)
|
car industry (Informal and clear, but slightly less common in formal business writing than 'auto industry'.)
Collocations
the automobile industry
|global automobile market
|automobile manufacturers
|automobile sales
|automobile sector
Themes
business
|transportation
|economy
Examples
- The automobile has been a major driver of economic growth in the last century.
- Many jobs depend on the health of the automobile in this region.
- Environmental rules are forcing changes across the global automobile.
Learner examples
- The automobile is important for this country’s economy.
- New rules will change the automobile in the next ten years.
- Many people in this city work in the automobile.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
Related to automobiles
About or connected to automobiles, often used in technical or business language.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'automobile' and 'automotive' as adjectives. In most modern technical English, 'automotive' is preferred as the adjective, while 'automobile' is more often used as a noun.
Synonyms
automotive (More common as a technical adjective; often preferred in industry and engineering contexts.)
Antonyms
non-automotive (Used in industry and business to describe things not related to automobiles.)
Collocations
automobile engineer
|automobile design
|automobile repair
|automobile plant
|automobile safety standards
Themes
transportation
|technology
|business
Examples
- She works as an automobile engineer for a major car company.
- The new law will tighten automobile safety requirements.
- Automobile technology has changed rapidly in the last decade.
Learner examples
- He reads many magazines about automobile design.
- The company makes automobile parts for many brands.
- There are strict rules for automobile safety in this country.
Grammar
Dictionary form
automobile
IPA
GB/ˈɔtoʊmoʊbˌil/
US/ˈɔtoʊmoʊbˌil/
Syllables & stress
auto - mobile (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (auto)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: automobile
- Plural: automobiles
Word family
Forms
automobiles
noun
Core family
automotive
adjective B1
Related words
auto
noun A2
automaker
noun
Expressions
automobile accident
1/ˈɔtoʊmoʊbˌil ˈæksədənt/
fixed phrase
Traffic crash involving an automobile
A crash on the road that involves one or more automobiles.
Examples
- He hurt his back in an automobile accident last year.
- The police closed the road after a serious automobile accident.
automobile dealership
1/ˈɔtoʊmoʊbˌil dˈilɚʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
Business that sells automobiles
A business where you can go to look at and buy new or used automobiles.
Examples
- They visited an automobile dealership to test-drive a few models.
- The new automobile dealership opened near the highway.
automobile industry
1/ˈɔtoʊmoʊbˌil ˈɪndəstɹi/
fixed phrase
The industry that makes automobiles
The business field where companies design, build, and sell automobiles.
Examples
- The automobile industry is investing heavily in electric cars.
- Jobs in the automobile industry are changing because of new technology.
automobile insurance
1/ˈɔtoʊmoʊbˌil ɪnʃˈʊɹəns/
fixed phrase
Insurance for an automobile
A type of insurance that pays money if your automobile is in an accident, is stolen, or is damaged.
Examples
- Most states require drivers to have automobile insurance.
- She compared prices before choosing an automobile insurance policy.
automobile manufacturer
1/ˈɔtoʊmoʊbˌil mˌænjəfˈækt͡ʃɚɚ/
fixed phrase
Company that makes automobiles
A company that makes automobiles in factories.
Examples
- Major automobile manufacturers are developing self-driving cars.
- The country is home to several large automobile manufacturers.
automobile repair shop
1/ˈɔtoʊmoʊbˌil ɹɪpˈɛɹ ʃˈɑp/
fixed phrase
Place where automobiles are repaired
A place where workers fix broken or damaged automobiles.
Examples
- He took his car to an automobile repair shop after the accident.
- The automobile repair shop promised to finish the work in two days.