rustbucket

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

An old, neglected vehicle, usually a car, a freighter, or a truck.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

That sagging old rustbucket is designed like a garbage scow!

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “rustbucket” mean?

An old, neglected vehicle, usually a car, a freighter, or a truck.

Is “rustbucket” formal or informal?

rustbucket is generally slang.