automobilist

An automobilist is a person who drives or operates an automobile. In early motoring literature, the term also carried connotations of enthusiasm for cars and participation in car culture, beyond simply traveling from place to place.

Etymology and usage: the word is formed from automobile with the agent suffix -ist. In modern English, motorist is more common, especially in American usage, while automobilist appears in historical or European texts and in discussions of early automobilism—a social movement surrounding early cars, road infrastructure, and motor sport.

Today, automobilist is largely historical or literary, and is used when referencing historical periods or stylistic choices in writing. It is not tied to a specific occupation. Related terms include motorist, driver, and automobilia.