automobilistic
|au-to-mo-bil-is-tic|
🇺🇸
/ˌɑːtəmoʊˈbɪlɪstɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌɔːtəˈbɪlɪstɪk/
relating to cars
Etymology
'automobilistic' originates from English formation based on French 'automobile' plus the adjectival suffix '-istic' (from Greek/Latin learned formation); 'automobile' itself comes from Greek 'auto-' meaning 'self' and Latin 'mobilis' meaning 'movable'.
'automobile' entered English from French 'automobile' in the late 19th century (originally 'self-moving' vehicle); the adjective 'automobilistic' was later formed in English by attaching the suffix '-istic' to 'automobile' to create a word meaning 'relating to automobiles'.
Initially the parts meant 'self' + 'movable' (i.e., a self-moving vehicle); over time the sense broadened to refer generally to cars and things relating to cars, and 'automobilistic' now means 'relating to or characteristic of automobiles/car culture'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to automobiles or automobile travel; concerning cars, driving, or car infrastructure.
Mid-20th-century urban design often followed automobilistic principles, favoring wide roads and parking over pedestrian spaces.
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Adjective 2
characteristic of car culture or automobile users; showing attitudes, preferences, or behaviors shaped by reliance on cars.
His automobilistic outlook made him skeptical of efforts to restrict downtown parking.
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Last updated: 2025/11/27 05:16