A closed passenger car with a notchback, four doors, and a fixed roof. It is one of the most common body styles for cars.
example
Als Familienauto haben wir uns für eine geräumige Limousine entschieden.
For a family car, we chose a spacious sedan.
Usage tips
False friend
In German, 'Limousine' can refer to a normal passenger car with a notchback. In English, 'limousine' or 'limo' almost always means a large luxury car with a chauffeur, which corresponds more closely to meaning m02 in German.
EXAMPLE
Unser neues Familienauto ist eine einfache Limousine, kein Luxuswagen.
Our new family car is a simple sedan, not a luxury car.
Context clue
The context reveals whether a normal car (m01) or a luxury vehicle (m02) is meant. Words like 'Kombi' (station wagon), 'Kofferraum' (trunk), or 'viertürig' (four-door) point to a normal car. Words like 'Chauffeur' (chauffeur), 'Stretch-' (stretch), 'Prominente' (celebrities), or 'vorfahren' (to pull up/arrive by car) point to the luxury version.
EXAMPLE
Suchen Sie eine Limousine oder einen Kombi?
Are you looking for a sedan or a station wagon?
Typical collocations
In connection with luxury cars, people often speak of a 'Stretch-Limousine' (stretch limousine). Typical verbs are 'eine Limousine mieten' (to rent a limousine) or 'in einer Limousine vorfahren' (to pull up in a limousine).
EXAMPLE
Für die Hochzeit haben sie eine weiße Stretch-Limousine gemietet.
They rented a white stretch limousine for the wedding.