# Holden

/ˈhoʊɫdən/ (US) · /hˈəʊldən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/holden
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. Australian car brand

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a famous brand of cars from Australia.

For teachers: A major Australian automotive marque, originally an independent company and later a subsidiary of General Motors.

- My uncle drove an old Holden when he lived in Sydney.
- The closure of the Holden manufacturing plants marked the end of a significant era in Australian industrial history.

Usage: Proper noun; usually refers to the vehicle brand or a specific car produced by it.

Teaching tip: This is a culturally significant brand in Australia and New Zealand, similar to Ford or Chevrolet in the US.

## Examples

- The people were holden by a great fear.
- In the ancient text, the king was described as being holden in high regard by all his subjects.
- The legal document, written in a style now long forgotten, stated that the parties were holden to the terms of the agreement until the debt was fully discharged.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.