Phrase guide

club car

noun · 4 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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1

noun

Meaning 1

A railroad car that serves in the manner of a club (lounge), offering drinks, snacks, background music, and sometimes meals.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: buffet car, refreshment car (broadly synonymous)
  • I saw Charlie last night in the club car. When we get to Chicago, he's going to telephone Mr. Brown for further instructions.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: buffet car, refreshment car

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: railroad car, railcar, car, carriage, rolling stock, vehicle

2

noun

Meaning 2

A golf cart.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, informal

Examples

  • We'll take the ferry to the island, and when we get off the ferry, we'll rent a club car and drive into town.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see club, car; for example, one of the cars owned by a car club member.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Several club cars were in the cruise on Sunday. Clubmembers Joe and Jane Worthington brought their Packard, and Tom Smith brought his Plymouth.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

railroad car having a bar and tables and lounge chairs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lounge car

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: car, railcar, railway car, railroad car

History

Etymology

From club + car. The golf cart sense (sense 2) is by informal (and mostly colloquial) genericization of the trade name Club Car.