Standard Lemma guide

semi-trailer

noun · 2 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 trailer without front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end, designed to be pulled via a pivoting arrangement which also partially supports its weight.

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

Ellipsis of semi-trailer truck (“a tractor-trailer or big rig, consisting of a semi-trailer and a semitruck pulling it”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: articulated lorry, artic, 18-wheeler, juggernaut, truck and trailer

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sem- Proto-Indo-European *sēmi Latin sēmi-bor. English semi- English trailer English semi-trailer From semi- + trailer.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: կիսակցորդ (kisakcʻord) — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Belarusian: паўпрычэ́п (pawpryčép) — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Bulgarian: полуремарке (poluremarke) — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Czech: návěs — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Danish: sættevogn — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Dutch: oplegger — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Estonian: poolhaagis — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Finnish: puoliperävaunu — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • French: semi-remorque — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • German: Auflieger — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • German: Sattelauflieger — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Hungarian: félpótkocsi — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Italian: semirimorchio — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Japanese: セミトレーラー (semitorērā) — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Latvian: puspiekabe — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Lithuanian: pùspriekabė — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Norwegian Bokmål: semitrailer — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: semitrailer — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Polish: naczepa — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Portuguese: semirreboque — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Portuguese: carreta — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Romanian: semiremorcă — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Russian: полуприце́п (polupricép) — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Slovene: polpriklopnik — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Spanish: semirremolque — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Swedish: påhängsvagn — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Swedish: semitrailer — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Ukrainian: напівпри́чіп (napivprýčip) — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Vietnamese: sơ mi rơ mooc — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end
  • Vietnamese: sơ-mi rơ-mooc — trailer without a front axle and with wheels only at the trailing end