motorist
gb/mˈoʊtɚɪst/ us/mˈoʊtɚɪst/
B1
English
~ 9200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
person driving a motor vehicle
A person who drives a car or other motor vehicle on the road.
Usage pattern:
[a motorist] drives [a car / a vehicle] on [a road]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "motorist" means any person using the road, but it refers only to people driving motor vehicles, not to cyclists or pedestrians. Many learners also overuse "motorist" in everyday speech; in casual conversation, "driver" is usually more natural, while "motorist" is more common in news reports, official advice, and written rules.
Synonyms
driver (More common and general; can be used for any person driving, while "motorist" is often used in traffic reports, news, and legal or safety contexts.)
Antonyms
pedestrian (A pedestrian is a person walking on or near a road, not driving a vehicle, so it contrasts with a motorist as a different type of road user.)
Collocations
careless motorist
|responsible motorist
|other motorists
|fellow motorists
|injured motorist
Themes
transportation
|law
|daily life
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new law requires every motorist to wear a seat belt.
- Several motorists were stuck in traffic after the accident on the bridge.
- Police warned motorists to slow down because of ice on the roads.
- As a motorist, you must give way to pedestrians at the crossing.
- The city plans to fine any motorist who parks in a bike lane.
Learner examples
- The motorist stopped his car at the red light.
- Many motorists drive too fast on this road.
- A motorist called the police after the crash.
- Every motorist should check the car before a long trip.
- The motorist waited while children crossed the street.
Grammar
Dictionary form
motorist
IPA
GB/mˈoʊtɚɪst/
US/mˈoʊtɚɪst/
Syllables & stress
mo - tor - ist (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mo)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: motorist
- Plural: motorists
Word family
Forms
motorists
noun
Core family
motor
noun A2
Related words
motorize
verb
motorized
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
motorless
adjective
Advanced or less common
motorization
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.