crash-test: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, technical, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “crash-test” mean?
A test in which a vehicle is deliberately crashed to assess its safety and the performance of its safety features, such as airbags and crumple zones.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A test in which a vehicle is deliberately crashed to assess its safety and the performance of its safety features, such as airbags and crumple zones.
A rigorous, often destructive, test of a product, system, or person's resilience under extreme or simulated failure conditions. It can also be used as a verb meaning to subject to such a test.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The hyphen is standard in both varieties when used as a noun or adjective. Verb usage might be slightly more common in American technical/business jargon.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. In metaphorical use, both associate it with rigorous, high-stakes evaluation.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in technical/automotive contexts. Slightly higher metaphorical use in American business/IT jargon (e.g., 'crash-test the new software').
Grammar
How to Use “crash-test” in a Sentence
[VN] (technical) to crash-test a car[be V-ed] The prototype was crash-tested yesterday.[N modifies N] crash-test ratingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crash-test” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The manufacturer will crash-test the new electric van next week.
- All models must be crash-tested before they can be sold.
American English
- We need to crash-test this software update on the backup servers first.
- The NHTSA crash-tested ten popular SUVs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'We need to crash-test the new business model before the full launch.'
Academic
In engineering and safety science papers discussing vehicle safety protocols and results.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation, except when discussing car safety ratings.
Technical
The standard term in automotive engineering for controlled collision experiments.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crash-test”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crash-test”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crash-test”
- Using it as a synonym for any difficult test (e.g., 'I have a crash-test in maths tomorrow'). Confusing 'crash-test dummy' (the mannequin) with a foolish person in inappropriate contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly hyphenated when used as a noun or adjective (crash-test, crash-test dummy). As a verb, it is also hyphenated or sometimes written as one word (to crash-test or crash test).
Yes, metaphorically. It's used in software development (crash-test a new app), finance (crash-test a portfolio against a market crash), and generally for any system subjected to extreme stress testing.
A crash-test specifically simulates a violent impact or sudden catastrophic failure. A stress test is broader, applying sustained or increasing pressure to find breaking points. A crash-test is a type of extreme, acute stress test.
Independent bodies like Euro NCAP in Europe, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States.
A test in which a vehicle is deliberately crashed to assess its safety and the performance of its safety features, such as airbags and crumple zones.
Crash-test is usually formal, technical, journalistic in register.
Crash-test: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkræʃ ˌtest/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkræʃ ˌtest/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a crash-test dummy (for a situation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CRASH in a TEST laboratory. The word itself is the definition.
Conceptual Metaphor
RIGOROUS TESTING IS A DELIBERATE COLLISION / PREPARATION FOR FAILURE IS SIMULATING A CRASH.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does it mean to 'crash-test a new policy'?