limousine

noun

lim·​ou·​sine ˈli-mə-ˌzēn How to pronounce limousine (audio) ˌli-mə-ˈzēn How to pronounce limousine (audio)
1
: a large luxurious often chauffeur-driven sedan that usually has a glass partition separating the driver's seat from the passenger compartment
2
: a large vehicle for transporting passengers to and from an airport

Examples of limousine in a Sentence

The bride and groom rode in a limousine from the church to the reception hall.
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.
As the band exited, Lincoln even held limousine door open for Lennon. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2025 Companies that charter buses for sporting events or limousines for special occasions use this permit, according to the CPUC’s website. Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025 The event at Nobu was supposed to be attended only by people who were being given rides by secondary parties, such as ride share services or limousines, according to the Okeke family’s suit. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2025 Across town from the inaugural speeches and Presidential pardons, high-fashion billionaire balls and limousine motorcades, some traumatized inhabitants of Washington, D.C., were pinning their hopes on two panda cubs at the National Zoo. Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for limousine

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "automobile having a fully enclosed passenger compartment with the driver's seat protected only by the windshield and a forward extension of the roof," borrowed from French, noun derivative from feminine of limousin "of limoges or limousin, France"

Note: The motivation behind the name has not been satisfactorily established. The authors of (vol. 5, p. 347, note 4) suggest that the allusion is to French limousine in the sense "cape-like coat of goatskins or coarse wool worn by wagoners, shepherds, etc.," the roof over the driver being compared to the protective cloak. Such a comparison has parallels—note French capote "hooded cloak" and "top of a convertible," as well as English bonnet entry 1. A difficulty with this hypothesis is that from the word's earliest appearance in French, apparently in 1900, it refers to the entire carriage style, not the covering over the driver. According to Trésor de la langue française, a different explanation is offered in the journal La vie parisienne, issue of December 10, 1904, which attributes the invention of this style to the engineer Charles Jeantaud (1840-1906), who was born in Limoges. However, none of the available photos of the battery-powered vehicles designed by Jeantaud show any resemblance to early limousines.

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of limousine was in 1902

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Cite this Entry

“Limousine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limousine. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

limousine

noun
lim·​ou·​sine ˈlim-ə-ˌzēn How to pronounce limousine (audio)
ˌlim-ə-ˈzēn
1
: a large luxurious automobile often driven by a chauffeur
2
: a large vehicle for passengers going to and from an airport

More from Merriam-Webster on limousine

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