A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice.

The "proper" or formal name for a taxi is a taxicab. This compound word originates from two distinct inventions: the taximeter (the device that calculates the fare based on distance and time) and the cabriolet (a type of horse-drawn carriage that was light and fast). In modern legal and regulatory documents, you will often see them referred to as For-Hire Vehicles (FHVs) or Hackney Carriages, the latter being the traditional term still used in London for the famous "Black Cabs." In the context of 2026 urban mobility, the terminology is expanding; while "taxicab" remains the standard, they are increasingly grouped under the broader umbrella of Ride-Hailing or Electronic Ride-Sharing services when referring to platforms like Uber or Lyft. Internationally, the name changes with the culture: in Morocco, you’ll distinguish between the Petit Taxi (for city limits) and the Grand Taxi (for intercity travel), while in Southeast Asia, the "proper" taxi might be a motorized Tuk-Tuk. Regardless of the local name, the defining "proper" characteristic of a taxi is the presence of a "metered" or regulated fare for point-to-point transportation.