# minivan

/ˈmɪniˈvæn/ (US) · /mˈɪnɪvˌæn/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. family vehicle

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a large car that can carry several people, usually a family, and has plenty of space for bags.

For teachers: a passenger vehicle designed for family transport, typically featuring a high roof, sliding doors, and three rows of seating.

- We rented a minivan for our road trip so the kids would have enough space.
- The manufacturer redesigned the minivan to include stow-away seating, appealing to suburban families who require versatile cargo configurations.

Usage: In British English, this vehicle is more commonly referred to as a 'people carrier'.

### 2. to travel by minivan

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to travel or move people using a minivan.

For teachers: to transport passengers or travel specifically by means of a minivan.

- The team minivanned across the state to reach the tournament on time.
- Having minivanned through the mountains for three days, the researchers were relieved to finally reach the remote field station.

Usage: This verb use is relatively rare and typically occurs in informal, spoken contexts.

## Examples

- We rented a minivan for our family road trip.
- The soccer coach used a minivan to transport the team and their equipment to the tournament.
- While SUVs have gained market share, the minivan remains the superior choice for large families due to its low step-in height and superior interior volume efficiency.

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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.