motorcycle

noun

mo·​tor·​cy·​cle ˈmō-tər-ˌsī-kəl 

: an automotive vehicle with two in-line wheels

motorcycle intransitive verb

motorcyclist

ˈmō-tər-ˌsī-k(ə-)list 

noun

Examples of motorcycle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The government in Caracas wants Venezuelans out and about, though the streets are quiet, apart from a few militia members mustering with their motorcycles. —Mary Triny Mena, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026

ViberAlert is essentially applying the same logic to motorcycles – just in a far more intimate location. —New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2026

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard ranks include the all-volunteer Basij force, whose motorcycle-riding members have violently put down protests like the 2009 Green Movement and the 2022 demonstrations. —Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026

Some motorcycle gloves can also be powered using the bike’s wiring system, which keeps the battery topped up. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

motor bicycle

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for motorcycle

• recycle
• cycle

Kids Definition

motorcycle

noun

mo·​tor·​cy·​cle ˈmōt-ər-ˌsī-kəl 

: a motorized vehicle for one or two passengers that has two wheels

motorcycle verb

motorcyclist

-ˌsī-k(ə-)ləst 

noun