Definition

Noun: A station wagon is a type of passenger car that has a long, extended body with a rear door (often a hatch or tailgate). Its key feature is a large, open cargo area behind the rear seat, which is integrated with the passenger compartment, providing more storage space than a typical sedan.

Usage

The term "station wagon" is used to describe a specific car body style. It is a countable noun. * We need a station wagon for our family trip to fit all our luggage. * The station wagon was popular in the mid-20th century. * Many station wagons have fold-down rear seats to increase cargo capacity.

Examples

• They loaded the furniture into the back of their station wagon.
• Compared to a sedan, a station wagon offers much more practical storage space.
• The automotive museum had a classic 1960s station wagon on display.

Advanced Usage

• "Estate car": This is the common British English equivalent term for "station wagon."
  • In the UK, they call a station wagon an estate car.
• The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe other nouns.
  • station wagon sales, station wagon design, station wagon version

Variants and Related Words

• Wagon (noun): A common, informal shortening of "station wagon" in American English.
  • We drove the kids to soccer practice in the wagon.
• Estate (noun): A common shortening of "estate car" in British English.
• Shooting brake (noun): A historical and sometimes modern term for a high-end or sporty station wagon, primarily used in British English.

Synonyms

• Estate car (UK)
• Wagon (informal, US)
• Estate (informal, UK)

Related Phrases / Collocations

• Family wagon: Emphasizes the car's suitability for family use.
• Wood-paneled station wagon: Refers to a classic style where the sides of the car were decorated with simulated wood paneling.
• Long-roof design: A descriptive term highlighting the station wagon's extended roofline compared to a sedan.

Noun

1. a car that has a long body and rear door with space behind rear seat