What does dodgem mean?
A dodgem is a small electrically powered car used at amusement parks and fairgrounds, driven within a flat enclosed arena whose floor and ceiling carry the electrical current. The cars are deliberately easy to manoeuvre and are meant to be bumped into one another, since their padded rubber bumpers make collisions safe and entertaining. The word originated in the early twentieth century as a trademark — the original vehicles were marketed as ones that could be 'dodged', meaning skilful drivers could avoid being hit — though bumping soon became the chief attraction. In British English, speakers typically refer to the whole attraction as 'the dodgems', using the plural form, whereas Americans more often say 'bumper car'. The word carries playful, nostalgic connotations of fairs, childhood outings, and good-natured chaos, and it remains firmly informal in tone wherever it is used.
nounA small, low-powered electric car driven in a special arena at an amusement park or fairground, designed to be bumped into other such cars without damage. In British usage, 'dodgems' (plural) also refers collectively to the ride or arena itself.
- A small electric bumper car ridden for amusement at fairs and funfairs, intended to collide safely with others.
"The children spent the whole afternoon at the fair riding the dodgems."
"He steered his dodgem wildly around the rink, grinning every time he clipped another car."
"The fairground's dodgems were the oldest attraction on site, but still the most popular."
In British English, the plural 'the dodgems' commonly refers to the entire ride or arena rather than individual cars; in American English the singular 'dodgem' or the term 'bumper car' predominates.
"The dodgems opened at noon and the queue never shortened all day."
'Dodgem' began life as a brand name: the original 1920s cars were built so skilfully that drivers could actually dodge one another — even though bumping is now the whole point.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dodgem
The word 'dodgem' arose in the United States in the 1920s as a proprietary name for an early make of bumper car, formed from the verb 'dodge' with the suffix '-em' — an eye-dialect spelling of 'them', suggesting cars that could be dodged. As the ride spread to Britain and elsewhere, the trademark became genericised, and 'dodgem' came to denote any such car. Its only true relatives are the family of words derived from 'dodge' itself, whose ultimate origin is uncertain but which has been in English use since the sixteenth century.
Related word forms
How dodgem is actually used
In American English the singular 'dodgem' or 'dodgem car' is usual and 'bumper car' is far more common. In British English the plural form 'the dodgems' is idiomatic when referring to the ride as a whole. The word retains a light-hearted, informal register associated with fairs and childhood.
Easily confused with dodgem
A modem is a device connecting computers to networks, while a dodgem is an amusement-park bumper car — they rhyme but share no meaning.