What does motored mean?
Motored means powered or propelled by a motor, most often a combustion engine or electric motor. It is typically used attributively to describe vehicles, aircraft, boats, or other machinery: a motored aircraft, for example, is distinguished from one propelled by wind, gravity, or an engine coupled to it. The adjective is established in British and American English but is less common than the more readily recognizable “motorized” or “motorised.” Its concise formation reflects the older use of “motor” as both a noun for an engine and a verb associated with travelling by motor vehicle. Today, “motored” can suggest machinery, engineering, transport history, or a deliberately traditional description, depending on context. Although understandable and accurate, it may sound dated or technical in ordinary conversation, so writers usually choose “motorized” when they want the most idiomatic modern phrasing.
adjectiveFitted with or driven by a motor. In modern usage, the word chiefly describes a vehicle, machine, or device that is powered by an engine rather than by human, animal, or other external power.
- Powered by a motor or engine.
- Equipped with a motor.
"The museum displays a small motored vehicle built for rough terrain."
"The engineers tested the motored aircraft under controlled conditions."
"A small motored cart carried the equipment across the site."
Motored turns the idea of an engine into a compact description of anything it propels.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does motored come from?
The adjective was formed from “motor” with the participial ending “-ed.” “Motor” came through French from Latin motor, a form of motōr meaning “mover,” ultimately related to movēre, “to move.” The same Latin root also underlies cognates including “motion,” “emotion,” and “motive.”
Related word forms
How motored is actually used
The word is relatively uncommon in contemporary English and often sounds formal, technical, or traditional. “Motorized” is generally preferred for natural-sounding modern usage, with the spellings “motorised” also common in British English.
Easily confused with motored
“Motored” is a traditional adjectival form, while “motorized” is the more common modern term in both British and American English.