drive-by

American  

[drahyv-bahy] / ˈdraɪvˌbaɪ /

noun

plural

drive-bys

1. the action of driving by a specified locality, object, etc..

   a drive-by of Nelson's Monument.

2. a drive-by shooting.

   The gang member was killed in a drive-by.

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adjective

1. consisting of or featuring a drive-by.

   We boarded the sightseeing bus for a drive-by tour of the nation's capital.

2. occurring while driving past a person, object, etc..

   a drive-by shooting.

3. casual; superficial; offhand.

   a drive-by news analysis.

4. involving a brief stay in a hospital, clinic, etc..

   a drive-by mastectomy.

Etymology

Origin of drive-by

Noun, adj. use of verb phrase drive by

Example Sentences

She added that the assessor’s office hasn’t done even a drive-by physical review of properties since 1997, which she says makes all of its work suspect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

This is not a drive-by charity; we’re here for the long haul.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025

The motorists, who say their cars have been badly damaged by reported potholes, sounded their horns on a slow drive-by on Saturday afternoon.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2024

Strains of its speed-laced melody violated my peace by wafting into my apartment like a garbage truck’s drive-by stink.

From Salon • Oct. 20, 2023

The only dark moments were when Conner and the Morons showed up toward the end of every lunch period with their drive-by insults.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence