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.
The last remaining Chicago streetcar made its final run. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026 The initial plan called for a roughly 4-mile streetcar line, but construction bids far exceeded the $200 million budget. — Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026 Soon, Prospect was crowded with wagons, streetcars, bicycles and automobiles. — Arkansas Online, 27 June 2026 The streetcar had only surpassed that many monthly riders once before in December 2025. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026 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

See All Rhymes for streetcar

Browse Nearby Words

street broker
streetcar
street certificate
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Cite this Entry

“Streetcar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/streetcar. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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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