jalopy

word

Definition

An old, worn-out car, usually one that is in poor condition or barely works.

Usage & Nuances

'Jalopy' is informal and a bit old-fashioned in American English. It's often used humorously or affectionately about a very old car. Rarely used for modern vehicles; more likely to refer to something from decades ago.

Example Sentences

My grandfather still drives his old jalopy to the store.

basic

The rusty jalopy broke down on the way home.

basic

He bought a cheap jalopy to practice driving.

basic

You can hear my jalopy coming from a mile away because it rattles so much.

natural

We squeezed everyone into Tim’s jalopy for the road trip, hoping it would make it.

natural

That old jalopy has seen better days, but it still gets me where I need to go.

natural