shopvacEtymologyGenericization of the trademark Shop-Vac, from shop + vac, from workshop and vacuum cleaner.shopvac means A heavy-duty industrial vacuum cleaner designed to handle debris from a worksite or mechanical shop. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 96 out of 100.nounA heavy-duty industrial vacuum cleaner designed to handle debris from a worksite or mechanical shop.A wet-dry vacuum cleaner that can vacuum up wet material, liquids, and conventional dry mass, dust, dirt, sand, etc. and may be used as a makeshift pump in emergencies.