scooter

noun

scoot·​er ˈskü-tər How to pronounce scooter (audio)
plural scooters
1
a
: a vehicle ridden while standing that consists of a narrow footboard mounted between or atop two wheels tandem that has an upright steering handle attached to the front wheel, and that is moved by pushing with one foot
What pleases parents is the addition of hand brakes, which make today's scooters relatively safe.Newsweek
b
: a similar vehicle propelled by an electric motor
The rules are part of the city's attempts to cope with the rapid influx of scooters that have proven wildly popular but also raised safety concerns as they zip around at 20 mph, weaving between pedestrians or darting into traffic.Ely Portillo

called also electric scooter, e-scooter

2
3
: a single-person vehicle ridden while seated that usually has three or four wheels and an open body framework, is typically propelled by an electric motor, and is used especially by those with impaired mobility
… where students with the most severe physical challenges—all use motorized wheelchairs or scooters—live on the first floor.Jodi S. Cohen

called also mobility scooter

Examples of scooter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In fact, having your own set of wheels was wildly popular even if there was no engine involved: Riding a bike (or skateboard, or scooter) got 71 percent support. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 All bikers, roller skaters, skateboarders, scooters, strollers and walkers of all ages are welcome, although participants should note that the street will remain open to cars. Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 That means the batteries on these models of Rad Power’s bikes won’t be nearly as susceptible to the kinds of battery fires that have been plaguing low-end ebikes and scooters and have led to injuries and nearly 20 deaths in the US. Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2024 Another sign of the spring break invasion in Key West: scooter riders down Duval Street in 2003. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024 Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wagons, carts or any personal motorized vehicles Tents, canopies, or shade structures of any kind. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 27 Feb. 2024 Many electric bikes and scooters sold in the U.S. in recent years may contain lithium-ion batteries that have not been approved by consumer safety laboratories, and more laws and regulations on e-bike batteries are needed in the U.S., fire officials have warned. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 Acosta was accused of speeding through a red light, striking and killing a man on a scooter, Terry Harrell, 58. Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2024 Nearby, two workers from Guinea changed the oil on a scooter while others from Latin America, China and Turkmenistan picked up orders for apps like Uber Eats, Grubhub and DoorDash. Cedar Attanasio, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scooter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of scooter was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near scooter

Cite this Entry

“Scooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scooter. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scooter

noun
scoot·​er ˈsküt-ər How to pronounce scooter (audio)
1
: a child's vehicle consisting of a narrow base between a front and a back wheel and guided by a handle attached to the front wheel
2

More from Merriam-Webster on scooter

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