牵引电动机是电动机的类型之一，用于驱动车辆的轮子，包括汽车、电车、铁路机车、动车组及地铁车辆等。

早期的牵引电动机以直流电驱动，电压多为600V，随着GTO及IGBT等可用在牵引逆变器的功率晶体的出现，以交流电驱动的牵引电动机也随之出现，具有比同等输出的直流电机体积更小、效益更高、易于检修等优点，当中交流电机也分为同步及异步牵引。

在20世纪中期的柴油化时代以前，一台牵引电动机多是同时驱动多组动轮，与蒸汽机车相似。现时则多以一台电动机驱动一根车轴。

A traction motor is an electric motor used for propulsion of a vehicle, such as an electric locomotive or electric roadway vehicle.

Traction motors are used in electrically powered rail vehicles such as electric multiple units and other electric vehicles such as electric milk floats, elevators, conveyors, and trolleybuses, as well as vehicles with electrical transmission systems such as diesel-electric, electric hybrid vehicles, and battery electric vehicles.