minivan

American  

[min-ee-van] / ˈmɪn iˌvæn /

Or mini-van

noun

1. a small passenger van, somewhat larger than a station wagon, typically with side or rear windows and rear seats that can be removed for hauling small loads.

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minivan British  

/ ˈmɪnɪˌvæn /

noun

1. a small van, esp one with seats in the back for carrying passengers

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Etymology

Origin of minivan

mini- + van ²

Example Sentences

And so we canceled our vacation, rented a minivan and made our way to Connecticut for a three-day stay at a motel not too far from the house I used to own.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

A Toyota Voxy minivan with tinted windows slid behind Ashaal’s SUV, then gave a burst of speed to zoom ahead and block his path.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

The company said that the ride-hailing service will use an autonomous electric minivan from Volkswagen called the ID.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

He chauffeurs them around in a rental minivan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

His mom’s minivan sped down the street behind him, ready to crush the snow.

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu