Standard Lemma guide

autobahn

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈaʊ̯toˌbɑːn/
  • CMU ARPABET: AO1 T OW0 B AA2 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The high-speed intercity highways of Germany and Austria.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any wide, high-speed road.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

an expressway in a German-speaking country

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: expressway, freeway, motorway, pike, state highway, superhighway, throughway, thruway

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2ewder.? Proto-Indo-European *sóder.? Proto-Indo-European *h2ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón)? Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-)lbor. French auto- Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh1- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh1éyetider. Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dhlom Proto-Indo-European *-dhlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin mōbilislbor. French mobile French automobilebor. German Automobil German Auto Middle High German ban German Bahn German Autobahnbor. English autobahn Borrowed from German Autobahn.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: аутоба́н (autobán) — high-speed intercity highways of Germany and Austria
  • Bulgarian: автоба́н (avtobán) — high-speed intercity highways of Germany and Austria
  • Bulgarian: аутоба́н (autobán) — any wide, high-speed road — see also highway
  • Bulgarian: автоба́н (avtobán) — any wide, high-speed road — see also highway
  • Bulgarian: магистра́ла (magistrála) — any wide, high-speed road — see also highway