Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A customized car whose springs have been shortened so that the chassis rides close to the ground, often equipped with hydraulic lifts that can be controlled by the driver.
  • noun A person who drives such a car.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A car or truck which has had its suspension system modified so that it rides as low to the ground as possible.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

low +‎ rider

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word lowrider.

Examples

  • TAKAHASHI: Member J-Splif, whose real name is Jae Choung, says they built a fan base at lowrider car shows.

    Asian Hip-Hop Group Finds Fans Among L.A. Latinos 2010

  • TAKAHASHI: Member J-Splif, whose real name is Jae Choung, says they built a fan base at lowrider car shows.

    Asian Hip-Hop Group Finds Fans Among L.A. Latinos 2010

  • On an outer wall facing the street, the house is decorated with a Southern California–style cholo mural: Emiliano Zapata, an Aztec pyramid, a lowrider car, the words LOS VAGOS—the Wanderers—in old-school cholo block letters.

    Down and Delirious in Mexico City Daniel Hernandez 2011

  • J-SPLIF (Musician): We were doing a lot of lowrider shows, so they kind of embraced us with open arms.

    Asian Hip-Hop Group Finds Fans Among L.A. Latinos 2010

  • On an outer wall facing the street, the house is decorated with a Southern California–style cholo mural: Emiliano Zapata, an Aztec pyramid, a lowrider car, the words LOS VAGOS—the Wanderers—in old-school cholo block letters.

    Down and Delirious in Mexico City Daniel Hernandez 2011

  • Mr. Valadez, who died of cancer on Jan. 29 at age 64, was the longtime president of the Imperials Car Club and proud owner of Gypsy Rose, perhaps the most famous lowrider on the planet.

    His Car Set a High Bar for Lowriders Stephen Miller 2011

  • I wish the video was embeddable, as this has to be seen to be believed: the alarm-clock is attached to a pneumatic gas-lift under a bed that picks it up and bounces it up and down like a lowrider car:

    Boing Boing 2009

  • On an outer wall facing the street, the house is decorated with a Southern California–style cholo mural: Emiliano Zapata, an Aztec pyramid, a lowrider car, the words LOS VAGOS—the Wanderers—in old-school cholo block letters.

    Down and Delirious in Mexico City Daniel Hernandez 2011

  • Beloved in lowrider circles, Mr. Valadez was buried in a pink casket with floral detailing, and carried to the cemetery in a procession of lowriders led by the Gypsy Rose on a flatbed truck.

    His Car Set a High Bar for Lowriders Stephen Miller 2011

  • His lowrider will not lurch rhythmically of its own accord and cruise the barrio.

    El Guapo: WANTED: Latino Al Sharpton El Guapo 2012

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • This reminds me of one of my favorite misunderstandings of lyrics. A friend of mine thought that the singer of 'Lowrider' kept saying 'Low, dry dove, is a little higher.'

    September 18, 2007

  • *scratching head*

    September 18, 2007

  • September 18, 2007

  • Oh, the misunderstood lyrics game! Let me play!

    When I was kid I thought the Eagles song "Lyin' Eyes" was "Lion Eyes". I imagined they were hard to hide because lion eyes are so big, and scary.

    September 18, 2007

  • Those cars... I am jealous. Actually, I'm not.

    September 18, 2007

  • I have a friend who fancies that the Eagles are singing "giant thighs." ;->

    September 18, 2007

  • "Norton pulled up into the driveway of the flats to find a huge stretch limousine sitting there. He couldn't tell the make, but it looked like they'd taken Queen Victoria's rail-coach, painted it white and turned it into a lowrider."

    - Robert Barrett, 'White Shoes, White Lines and Blackie'.

    August 30, 2008