A van is a type of vehicle larger than a regular car but smaller than a truck or bus, designed to carry either many passengers or lots of cargo. Most vans have a boxy shape with a tall roof, which creates plenty of room inside.

Families often use minivans to transport children and their sports equipment or luggage on road trips. Businesses use cargo vans or delivery vans to move packages, tools, or supplies from place to place. You might see a plumber's van filled with wrenches and pipes, or a bakery van delivering fresh bread to restaurants each morning. Some schools use vans instead of full-size buses to transport smaller groups of students.

While modern vans run on engines rather than being pulled by animals, they still serve the same purpose: moving people or goods from one place to another with plenty of room to spare.