coupe

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four words describe different car body shapes, not different sizes or price points. A coupe has exactly two doors and a sloping rear; it is the most stylish of the four and usually marketed as sporty. A sedan (American) or saloon (British) has four doors and a separate boot behind the back seats — the classic family car shape. A hatchback also has four or five doors, but the rear door lifts upward and includes the back window, giving easier access to a shared luggage and seat area. A convertible can have any door count, but its defining feature is the folding or removable roof. So if you see two doors and a fixed sloping back, call it a coupe; two doors and a soft roof, a convertible; four doors with a boot lid, a sedan; four doors with a tailgate, a hatchback.

Common collocations

Etymology

Borrowed from French 'coupé' in the early 1800s. The French word is the past participle of 'couper' meaning 'to cut', and originally described a horse-drawn carriage that was effectively a larger coach 'cut' in half — losing the rear seats and keeping only the front compartment. When the automobile arrived, designers reused the name for short two-door cars that resembled the front half of a larger sedan. The same word later spread to the drinking glass because its wide, shallow bowl looks as though it has been 'cut' lower than a standard wine glass.