subcompact
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
A subcompact is a specific size class: one step below a compact car. A compact car (such as a Toyota Corolla) is roomier and often has a more powerful engine. An economy car is defined by its low running costs and good fuel efficiency rather than its size — many subcompacts are economy cars, but a hybrid compact can also be an economy car. A city car (like a Smart Fortwo) is even smaller than a subcompact, built almost exclusively for urban driving, with minimal cargo space and often just two seats. When shopping, a buyer looking for easy parking and low fuel costs might pick a subcompact; someone needing more room for passengers would step up to a compact.
Common collocations
Nouns
- subcompact car
- subcompact model
- subcompact class
- subcompact segment
Phrases
- drive a subcompact
- park a subcompact
- rent a subcompact
- buy a subcompact
Prepositions
- in a subcompact
- into a subcompact
Etymology
Formed from the prefix sub- (Latin for 'under' or 'below') and compact, a car size classification. The term emerged in North American English during the 1970s, when rising fuel prices after the 1973 oil crisis created demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Subcompacts fit one size class below compact cars in the American classification system.
First known use
1960
1960, in the meaning defined above