sports car

IPA/ˈspɔːts kɑː(r)/
IPA/ˈspɔːrts kɑːr/

sports car — noun

1. a car built with a powerful engine and a low body for high speed and quick, resp

1.nounA2
Definition

a car built with a powerful engine and a low body for high speed and quick, responsive handling, usually seating two people and often sold in a convertible version

Example

Dylan saved for three years to buy a red sports car.

save + buy: common verb pair with sports car

For Mathieu, owning a sports car meant weekend drives along the coast.

owning a sports car: possession and enjoyment context

Common collocations
  • drive a sports car
  • own a sports car
  • buy a sports car
  • two-seater sports car
  • convertible sports car
Synonyms
  • roadster

    a traditional term for a two-seater open-top sports car; less common in everyday speech

  • convertible

    a car with a folding roof; not all convertibles have the high performance of a sports car

Antonyms
  • sedan

    a practical family car with four doors and more space, built for comfort not speed

Usage Note

Sports car is often used with adjectives that describe the car's country of origin (e.g. Italian sports car) or body style (e.g. convertible sports car).

Common Mistakes

I drive a sport car.
I drive a sports car.
The compound noun keeps the plural 's' in 'sports' even when referring to a single car.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Sports car is the broadest and most common term for a fast, low car designed for performance. A roadster is a specific type of sports car with two seats and an open top — the term is older and more literary. A convertible is any car with a folding or removable roof; many convertibles are not sports cars (e.g. a family convertible). A coupe traditionally means a two-door car with a fixed roof and a sporty shape, but modern coupes may seat four people. If you want to emphasise speed and handling, use sports car. If the roof comes down, convertible works. For a classic two-seater open-top, roadster is the precise word.

roadsterconvertible ↗coupe ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • drive a sports car
  • own a sports car
  • buy a sports car
  • sports car enthusiast
  • sports car racing

Prepositions

  • in a sports car
  • with a sports car

Etymology

English

The compound 'sports car' entered English in the early 20th century, combining 'sports' (referring to sporty or competitive qualities) with 'car' (short for motorcar). It was used to describe lightweight, fast automobiles designed for racing or spirited driving, as opposed to ordinary passenger cars.

First known use

1919

1919, in the meaning defined above