motor lorry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowformal, historical, technical
Quick answer
What does “motor lorry” mean?
A large, powerful road vehicle designed for transporting goods.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, powerful road vehicle designed for transporting goods.
A heavy goods vehicle with an internal combustion engine, historically distinct from steam or horse-drawn lorries, and now often synonymous with the broader term 'lorry' in British English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is exclusively British English. The exact equivalent in American English is 'truck' (e.g., 'semi-truck', 'dump truck'). 'Lorry' is not used in American English.
Connotations
In UK English, 'lorry' or 'motor lorry' has neutral/technical connotations. In US English, using 'lorry' would be marked as a Britishism.
Frequency
Extremely low in contemporary American English (effectively zero). In British English, 'motor lorry' is less frequent than the shortened 'lorry', but remains in legal, historical, or formal technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “motor lorry” in a Sentence
The motor lorry [VERB: transported/carried/hauled] [NOUN: goods/coal/equipment].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “motor lorry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm decided to motor-lorry the consignment to Glasgow. (archaic/rare)
- They motor-lorried the equipment across the country.
American English
- Not used as a verb in AmE. The equivalent would be 'to truck'.
adjective
British English
- The motor-lorry industry faced new regulations.
- He held a motor-lorry driving licence.
American English
- Not used as an adjective in AmE. The equivalent would be 'trucking' (e.g., the trucking industry).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in logistics, haulage contracts, and supply chain discussions.
Academic
Found in historical texts about transport or industrial development.
Everyday
Rare in casual speech; 'lorry' is preferred.
Technical
Used in engineering, vehicle specifications, and driving licensing categories (e.g., Category C).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “motor lorry”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “motor lorry”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “motor lorry”
- Using 'motor lorry' in American English contexts.
- Using 'car lorry' (incorrect compound).
- Confusing 'lorry' with 'van' (a smaller goods vehicle).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is now quite formal and somewhat dated. In everyday British English, 'lorry' is the standard term.
No, it would not be understood. You must use 'truck' in American English.
A lorry (or motor lorry) is a large goods vehicle, typically with a separate cab and cargo area. A van is a smaller, enclosed goods vehicle, often based on a car chassis.
Yes, 'HGV' (Heavy Goods Vehicle) is a modern, official British term that covers what would historically be called a motor lorry.
A large, powerful road vehicle designed for transporting goods.
Motor lorry is usually formal, historical, technical in register.
Motor lorry: in British English it is pronounced /ˈməʊtə ˈlɒri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmoʊt̬ɚ ˈlɔːri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'By lorry' is a common collocation meaning 'transported via road freight', e.g., 'The goods were sent by lorry.'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MOTOR that powers a LORRY. It's a motorised lorry, not a horse-drawn one.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WORKHORSE OF INDUSTRY (carrying the weight of commerce).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the direct American English equivalent of 'motor lorry'?