carpool
KAHR-pool
/ˈkɑːrpuːl/
An arrangement where several people share a single vehicle to travel together, typically to work or school.
Emphasizes sharing a private vehicle to reduce costs, traffic, and environmental impact.
The story behind the word. A 20th-century American compound. The word 'pool' in this context comes from the French 'poule' (originally meaning 'hen'), which was used in card games to describe the collective stakes that players contributed to. Thus, 'carpooling' is pooling your car resources.
Word relationships
- ride-share: Ride-sharing often involves commercial services like Uber, while carpooling is typically an informal, non-commercial agreement among peers.
- solo drive: Driving alone in a vehicle.
Commonly confused with
- vanpool: A vanpool is similar to a carpool but uses a larger van to accommodate more passengers.
Word family
- carpooling (noun): The practice of sharing car journeys.
Collocations
- carpool lane
- organize a carpool
- join a carpool
- carpool partner
Example sentences
- "To save money on gasoline, several coworkers decided to carpool to the office." Saving money on transit
- "The parents organized a weekly carpool to take their children to soccer practice." School logistics
Memory hook
Imagine a swimming pool full of cars—everyone jumping into one car to save space. Carpool is pooling people into one car.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to public transit like buses or trains, or solo driving.
Fun facts
- Carpooling became highly popular during World War II in the United States as a government-promoted effort to conserve rubber and gasoline for the war effort.
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