Meaning & use
windshield
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableAmerican
The glass at the front of a vehicle that protects the people inside from wind and flying debris.
Grammar: Countable: a windshield, two windshields. In British English, use windscreen.
Patterns
- clean the windshield
- the windshield of a car
- a cracked windshield
The mechanic replaced the cracked windshield.
Rain beat against the windshield as we drove.
She used a cloth to wipe the windshield.
nouncountableAmerican
A transparent shield or screen that protects against wind, as on a motorcycle.
Grammar: Countable; often used for motorcycles or small vehicles.
Patterns
- a motorcycle windshield
- install a windshield
He added a windshield to his motorcycle for long trips.
The small windshield kept the worst of the wind off the rider.
Word forms
| plural | windshields |
|---|
Common combinations
- windshield wipers
- The windshield wipers cleared the rain from the glass.
- cracked windshield
- A cracked windshield can be dangerous and should be fixed.
- windshield washer fluid
- He refilled the windshield washer fluid before the trip.
- clean the windshield
- Always clean the windshield before driving in the sun.
Synonyms and how they differ
- windscreen
- Windscreen is the usual British term for the same part; windshield is standard in American English.
Word family
Commonly confused: windshield or windscreen?
windshield vs windscreen
Windscreen is British; windshield is American. They mean the same thing.
Practice
In American English, what is the glass at the front of a car called?
Choose one answer.
In American English, it is a windshield; windscreen is the British term.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “windshield”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.