benz-

variant of benzo- before a vowel: benzaldehyde.

Words nearby benz-

benue, benue-congo, benumb, benxi, benz, benz-, benzal, benzal chloride, benzal group, benzalacetone, benzaldehyde

ABOUT THIS WORD

What else does benz mean?

Frequently found in hip-hop lyrics, Benz is short for Mercedes-Benz, a German luxury car.

Where does benz come from?

Seen as symbols of wealth and success, luxury cars have long been a staple of hip-hop. Mercedes-Benz—founded in 1926 by Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz—is no exception. Often referred to simply as Benz in lyrics, the car has made its way into countless tracks going back all the way to the 1980s.

In 2016, an analysis by British financial services company GoCompare determined that Mercedes-Benz was the most rapped about car brand. And it wasn’t even close: Topping out at 3,238 mentions in their sample, the German car got double that of its second-place competitor, Bentley.

Notable artists in the 2000s rapping about Benz include J. Cole, Mac Miller, DJ Khaled, and many, many others.

How is benz used in real life?

While Benz may be abundant in hip-hop, it’s also used in everyday speech and writing, maybe influenced by hip-hop.

On social media, people may drop Benz to show off their wheels, to admire the car, or to make a joke about the brand’s association with luxury.

Note

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.