motorized vehicle

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A vehicle that has an engine and moves under its own power, such as a car, truck, or motorcycle.

   Grammar: Countable: use 'a motorized vehicle' or 'motorized vehicles'. It does not usually include bicycles or animal-drawn carts.

   Patterns

   • a motorized vehicle
   • motorized vehicles are not allowed
   • drive a motorized vehicle

   The path is closed to all motorized vehicles.

   You need a license to operate a motorized vehicle on public roads.

   Electric scooters count as motorized vehicles in some cities.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   Any machine used for transport that is powered by a motor rather than by human or animal effort.

   Grammar: Often used in technical or legal writing to cover many kinds of powered transport.

   Patterns

   • motorized vehicle traffic
   • register a motorized vehicle

   The park bans motorized vehicle traffic on weekends.

   Boats are motorized vehicles when they have engines.

Word forms

Common combinations

motorized vehicle traffic

Motorized vehicle traffic is heavy on this road at rush hour.

ban motorized vehicles

The council voted to ban motorized vehicles from the beach.

operate a motorized vehicle

Teenagers may operate a motorized vehicle only with a permit.

motorized vehicle license

He showed his motorized vehicle license at the rental desk.

Synonyms and how they differ

motor vehicle

The more common everyday term, especially for cars and trucks on roads.

powered vehicle

A broader term that can include vehicles powered by electricity or other means.

Word family

motorize verb

To give something a motor or to equip an army with motor vehicles.

motor noun

The engine that makes a machine move.

Commonly confused: motorized vehicle or motor vehicle?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “motorized vehicle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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