sedan: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Semi-Formal
Quick answer
What does “sedan” mean?
A passenger car with a closed body, a fixed roof, and a separate trunk/boot, typically having front and rear seats for four or more people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A passenger car with a closed body, a fixed roof, and a separate trunk/boot, typically having front and rear seats for four or more people.
A comfortable, practical automobile designed primarily for passenger transport on roads; a common body style for family and fleet vehicles. Historically, a sedan chair was an enclosed passenger conveyance carried by porters.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the term 'saloon' is the primary, traditional equivalent for this car body style. 'Sedan' is understood but less commonly used in everyday speech. In American English, 'sedan' is the universal term; 'saloon' is archaic and refers to a bar.
Connotations
UK: Slightly more technical or influenced by American media when used. US: Utterly standard, neutral term for a common car type.
Frequency
In the UK, 'saloon' is more frequent; 'sedan' is used in professional/industry contexts. In the US, 'sedan' is the default term; 'saloon' is never used for a car.
Grammar
How to Use “sedan” in a Sentence
We bought a [ADJECTIVE] sedan.The [NOUN] is available as a sedan or a hatchback.They pulled up in a [ADJECTIVE] sedan.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sedan” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The design was later sedan-ed for the European market. (extremely rare/neologistic)
American English
- They decided to sedan the chassis rather than make a coupe. (rare/jargon)
adjective
British English
- The saloon car variant. (Note: 'sedan' is not typically used adjectivally in BrE)
American English
- The sedan version is more popular.
- We offer sedan models and SUV models.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in automotive sales, marketing, and fleet management (e.g., 'Our corporate fleet consists mainly of hybrid sedans.').
Academic
Appears in texts on transportation, design, or sociology of technology.
Everyday
Common in discussions about buying a car, describing a vehicle, or giving directions (e.g., 'Look for a blue sedan parked outside.').
Technical
A precise classification in automotive engineering, design, and regulatory documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sedan”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sedan”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sedan”
- Using 'sedan' to refer to any car (e.g., 'I drive a red sedan' when they drive a red SUV).
- In BrE, overusing 'sedan' in casual conversation where 'saloon' or just 'car' is more natural.
- Misspelling as 'sedon' or 'seden'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A sedan has a separate, enclosed trunk/boot with a fixed rear window. A hatchback has a large rear door (the hatch) that opens upwards, incorporating the rear window, providing access to a cargo area that is part of the main cabin.
While 'sedan' is the standard term in American English, it has historical origins (from the Italian 'sedia' via French). It is used and understood in British English, but the traditional British term is 'saloon'.
Traditionally, a sedan implies four doors. A two-door version with the same enclosed-body, three-box design is usually called a 'coupe'. However, some modern marketing blurs this distinction.
A sedan chair was a historical, enclosed litter or passenger vehicle carried by two or more porters on poles. The name for the car is derived from this earlier mode of transport due to the enclosed nature of both.
A passenger car with a closed body, a fixed roof, and a separate trunk/boot, typically having front and rear seats for four or more people.
Sedan is usually neutral to semi-formal in register.
Sedan: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˈdæn/, and in American English it is pronounced /səˈdæn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sedan chair (historical)”
- “He arrived like he was in a sedan chair (meaning: in a slow, stately, or old-fashioned manner).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SEcure, Dignified, ANd practical car – a SEDAN. It has a roof and doors to keep you secure and dignified, unlike a convertible.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER FOR PEOPLE (The sedan encloses and transports its occupants). A STATUS SYMBOL (The type and model of sedan can signal social or financial standing).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically a characteristic of a modern sedan?