hgv

IPA/ˌeɪtʃ dʒiː ˈviː/
IPA/ˌeɪtʃ dʒiː ˈviː/

hgv — noun

  • hgvsingular
  • hgvsplural

1. in British English, the short form of 'heavy goods vehicle' — a large lorry buil

1.nounB2
Definition

in British English, the short form of 'heavy goods vehicle' — a large lorry built to carry big loads over long distances, the kind that needs a special driving licence in the UK.

Example

Ramón passed his HGV test last month and starts driving long-distance routes in June.

collocation: pass an HGV test

The narrow village road was closed to HGVs after a lorry got stuck nearby.

plural HGVs in safety/regulation context

Common collocations
  • HGV driver
  • HGV licence
  • HGV test
  • qualified HGV driver
  • an HGV carrying
Synonyms
  • lorry

    general British word for a large goods vehicle; less technical than HGV

  • truck

    the standard American term; in British use often means a smaller open vehicle

  • articulated lorry

    British, specifically a lorry with a separate trailer that bends in the middle

Grammar Patterns

a/the HGV

HGV driver

HGV licence

Usage Note

Distinct from 'truck' (the American term) and 'van' (a smaller vehicle): HGV refers specifically to the largest road-haulage class. Almost always written as the abbreviation in everyday British use; the full phrase 'heavy goods vehicle' appears mainly in laws and licence documents.

Common Mistakes

I saw a HGV on the motorway.
I saw an HGV on the motorway.
say 'an' because HGV starts with the vowel sound 'aitch'.
My uncle drives an HGV in Texas.
My uncle drives a truck in Texas.
HGV is British; Americans say 'truck' or 'semi'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words name a large road vehicle that carries goods, but they differ in register and region. 'HGV' is a technical British term used mainly on road signs, in driving-licence categories, and in news reports about transport — a learner will see it written far more often than hear it spoken. 'Lorry' is the everyday British word for any large goods vehicle; British speakers say 'lorry' in conversation and reserve 'HGV' for official contexts. 'Truck' is the standard American word for the same kind of vehicle; British speakers do use 'truck' but usually for a smaller open-backed model. 'Articulated lorry' is more specific: it names the very long type with a tractor unit and a separate trailer that bends at the joint. So a Manchester driver might say 'I drive a lorry' in the pub, 'I drive an articulated lorry' to describe the exact model, and 'I have my HGV licence' when filling in a job form.

HGV ↗lorry ↗truck ↗articulated lorry

Common collocations

Nouns

  • HGV driver
  • HGV licence
  • HGV test
  • HGV shortage

Phrases

  • pass one's HGV test
  • qualified HGV driver

Prepositions

  • closed to HGVs
  • behind an HGV

Etymology

English

An initialism formed in late twentieth-century British English from the words 'heavy', 'goods', and 'vehicle'. The phrase 'heavy goods vehicle' was adopted as an official UK transport category for trucks above a certain weight limit, and the abbreviation became standard on road signs, driving licences, and in journalism. Each letter is pronounced separately ('aitch-gee-vee'), so the indefinite article is 'an HGV'.