lorry
B1Everyday; Informal; Business/Logistics.
Definition
Meaning
A large motor vehicle designed to transport heavy loads by road.
A truck; also historically referred to a long, low, horse-drawn wagon without sides. In specific UK contexts, can refer to a railway goods wagon (e.g., coal lorry).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core sense denotes a heavy goods vehicle. Its use can imply commercial, industrial, or logistical contexts. Often carries connotations of manual labour, transport infrastructure, or road traffic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'lorry' is the standard term for a large truck. In American English, the equivalent term is 'truck' or 'semi (truck)' for articulated vehicles. 'Lorry' is rarely used in AmE and might be perceived as a Britishism.
Connotations
In BrE, neutral. In AmE, if used, it may sound quaint or distinctly British.
Frequency
Very high frequency in BrE. Extremely low frequency in AmE, where 'truck' is dominant.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The lorry + [VERB] (e.g., The lorry broke down.)[VERB] + a lorry (e.g., drive, load, unload, hire a lorry)[ADJECTIVE] + lorry (e.g., heavy, articulated, refrigerated lorry)lorry + [OF] + [NOUN] (e.g., a lorry of bricks)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Long lorry (Cockney rhyming slang: lorry = lorry load = road)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common in logistics, shipping, and supply chain management (e.g., 'We need to charter three lorries for the delivery.')
Academic
Rare, except in technical studies of transport or logistics.
Everyday
Very common in BrE for discussing traffic, deliveries, or jobs (e.g., 'The lorry's blocking the street.', 'He's a lorry driver.')
Technical
Used in transport engineering, driver licensing categories (Category C for lorries), and traffic management.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Non-standard/rare: to lorry something meaning to transport by lorry.)
American English
- (Not used.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used.)
American English
- (Not used.)
adjective
British English
- (Non-standard, as in 'lorry driver', 'lorry load' – functions as a noun adjunct.)
American English
- (Not used.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The lorry is big and red.
- My father drives a lorry.
- The lorry delivered food to the shop.
- There was a long queue of lorries on the motorway.
- The company hired a lorry to move the furniture.
- Lorry drivers must take regular breaks.
- The articulated lorry jackknifed on the icy roundabout, causing major delays.
- New regulations have increased the maximum weight allowed for freight lorries.
- He made a living as a long-distance lorry driver, crossing Europe weekly.
- The government's proposed road tax disproportionately impacts the haulage industry, penalising essential freight lorries.
- The logistics firm is transitioning its entire lorry fleet to electric vehicles to meet sustainability targets.
- A convoy of lorries formed a slow-moving blockade in protest against rising fuel prices.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a LORRY LOADing heavy items in LONDON (both start with 'L' and are common in the UK).
Conceptual Metaphor
A LORRY IS A BEAST OF BURDEN (powerful, slow, carrying weight).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'lori' (лори) – a type of primate.
- The direct translation 'грузовик' is correct, but remember 'truck' is the American term.
- Avoid using 'lorry' when speaking to Americans; use 'truck' instead.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'lorry' in American English contexts.
- Misspelling as 'lory' or 'lorrie'.
- Confusing 'lorry' with 'van' (a smaller vehicle).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the word 'lorry' most commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'lorry' is a British English term. Americans use 'truck'.
A lorry (or truck) is a large vehicle for heavy cargo. A van is smaller, typically used for lighter deliveries or passenger transport.
An articulated lorry (often called a 'semi' in the US or 'artic' in the UK) is a large lorry where the cab and trailer are connected by a pivoting joint, allowing for greater manoeuvrability.
No, 'lorry' is not a standard verb in modern English. The correct verbs are 'transport by lorry', 'drive a lorry', or 'haul'.