armchair

1 of 2

noun

arm·​chair ˈärm-ˌcher 

: a chair with armrests

armchair

2 of 2

adjective

1

: remote from direct dealing with problems : theoretical rather than practical

armchair strategists

2

: sharing vicariously in another's experiences

an armchair traveler

Examples of armchair in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bright and colorful, the new palette blends all the hues of the Mediterranean, from the elegant teal headboards to the snug terracotta armchairs. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

One recent afternoon, the Irish actor Aidan Turner, who plays the seedy playboy the Vicomte de Valmont in a new production of the show at the National Theatre, settled into an armchair in the hotel’s lounge. —Anna Russell, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Adjective

Over the weekend, the scandal-prone Swiss lender became a trending topic among armchair investors on Twitter and Reddit forums, who speculated that the bank was in trouble. —Margot Patrick, WSJ, 3 Oct. 2022

There is an army of armchair retail traders hell-bent on chasing the entire electric vehicle supply chain. —Moneyshow, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1585, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for armchair

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare
• cookware

Kids Definition

armchair

noun

arm·​chair

ˈärm-ˌche(ə)r, 

-ˌcha(ə)r;

ˈarm-ˈche(ə)r, 

-ˈcha(ə)r

: a chair with supports for a person's arms