Phrase guide

Wankel engine

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 rotary internal combustion engine, without pistons, using instead an epitrochoid-shaped housing.

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

a rotary engine that is a four-stroke internal-combustion engine without reciprocating parts

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Wankel rotary engine, epitrochoidal engine

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rotary engine

History

Etymology

From the name of the inventor, engineer Felix Wankel.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: motor Wankel — type of engine
  • Dutch: wankelmotor — type of engine
  • Finnish: wankelmoottori — type of engine
  • French: moteur Wankel — type of engine
  • German: Wankelmotor — type of engine
  • Portuguese: motor rotativo — type of engine
  • Spanish: motor Wankel — type of engine