ENGLISH
REFERENCE

jeep

n. · v.
US //ˈdʒip// UK //dʒˈiːp// jeep
  1. 1 military vehicle (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Military

    a light, open vehicle used by soldiers to move across difficult ground.

    a light, general-purpose military vehicle, specifically the iconic models used during and after World War II.

    Example

    The soldiers drove the jeep across the muddy field to reach the camp.

    Example

    Restored World War II jeeps are frequently featured in historical reenactments to demonstrate the mobility of infantry units during the conflict.

  2. 2 Philippine jeepney (n.)
    C1 Advanced Dialect

    a colourful public bus used in the Philippines.

    A popular means of public transportation in the Philippines, originally made from repurposed military jeeps.

    Example

    We hopped on a crowded jeep to get to the market in Manila.

    Example

    The iconic jeep remains a staple of Philippine urban transit, though modern environmental regulations are forcing a transition toward electric models.

    • jeepney
  3. 3 to travel by jeep (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to travel or drive somewhere in a jeep.

    to travel by means of a jeep, typically over rugged or unpaved terrain.

    Example

    We spent the weekend jeeping through the desert dunes.

    Example

    The researchers spent several weeks jeeping across the remote highlands to collect soil samples from the volcanic sites.

Etymology 1

Derived from GP, initialism of general-purpose. Noun from General Purpose Vehicle (military light utility truck).

Etymology 2

Disputed. Possibly from Eugene the Jeep, a character in Popeye cartoons.

Etymology 3

An ironic pronunciation of AGP, the initialism of autogynephilia in Blanchard's transsexual typology.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Last updated June 20, 2026