armchair

play

noun arm·chair \ˈärm-ˌcher\

Definition of armchair

: a chair with armrests

See armchair defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of armchair from the Web

Weatherproof sectional sofas, loungers, armchairs, and ottomans are made from a resin-rattan weave and topped with Sunbrella-upholstered cushions; vibrant all-weather striped pillows add color and personality. 81.

— marielle wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, "Best of LA: 92 of Our Favorite Things to Eat, Do, and Buy Right Now," 14 July 2017
The military arranged a sofa and two armchairs around a shackle point inside.

— carol rosenberg, miamiherald, "Guantánamo admiral wants to raze a prison facility for a base recreation spot," 14 July 2017
There are a lot of ways for studios, and theaters, to cover for that revenue loss—raising ticket prices, serving food to customers at their seats, offering more comfortable armchairs for a premium.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Why Hollywood Should Pay Attention to Dunkirk," 10 July 2017
Small hoof table; writing table, 19th-century; metal armchair, 19th-century; plaster torso and foot, 19th-century; French lamp—

— House Beautiful, "July/August 2017 Product Guide," 3 July 2017
Gil Walker reclines in a striped armchair in his bungalow on the South Side of Chicago, an orange tabby cat circling his feet.

— joan niesen, SI.com, "Two decades later, the legacy of midnight basketball leagues is difficult to measure," 30 June 2017
Some press critics, armchair and otherwise, have long suggested that journalists band together, ignore @realDonaldTrump and devote their attention to more pressing matters.

— gregory krieg, CNN, "As the health care vote looms, Trump's tweets mostly look elsewhere," 26 June 2017
Readers who crave more than a family vacation itinerary or a quick city guide to hot spots will find that Maptia satisfies a thirst for armchair exploration.

— Philly.com, "For armchair adventurers, this site offers tales of travel," 4 June 2017
Cole, a paramedic who is also a history buff and an armchair genealogist, has been probing his own family history for years.

— janice steinhagen, Courant Community, "Griswold Man Preserves Historical Military Records," 1 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'armchair.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of armchair

1585

armchair

adjective arm·chair

Definition of armchair

1 : remote from direct dealing with problems : theoretical rather than practical armchair strategists
2 : sharing vicariously in another's experiences an armchair traveler

See armchair defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of armchair from the Web

Inside, one encounters articles on Canadian soft power, Latin American soap operas, and Finnish domestic architecture: the casual reading of an armchair diplomat.

— kyle chayka, New Republic, "Can Monocle's globalist chic survive in an age of populism?," 27 June 2017
Walking The Metacomet Trail SIMSBURY — Walking The Metacomet Trail, part of the armchair traveler series at Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St., will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 20.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Valley Edition," 12 June 2017
As any armchair detective or avid Investigation Discovery channel viewer can tell you, such grim scenarios are standard fare for true-crime television, fodder for an endless stream of whodunits flooding the market.

— lorraine ali, The Seattle Times, "‘The Keepers’ on Netflix digs deeper into the life of a homicide victim," 7 June 2017
In the second half of the book, Susan morphs from armchair detective to amateur sleuth.

— david martindale, star-telegram.com, "‘Magpie Murders’ a clever riff on the whodunit genre," 30 May 2017
Like the dream sequence in the original series, these Black Lodge sequences will undoubtedly be pored over by armchair sleuths looking for clues to unlock the grander mystery of the series.

— scott meslow, GQ, "Twin Peaks," 22 May 2017
An armchair historian, Benjamin looks for inspiration everywhere.

— samantha nelson, chicagotribune.com, "Author Melanie Benjamin the guest for Book Lovers' Lunch," 4 May 2017
Reproduced across continents and centuries, Mercator’s map reached generations of cartographers, explorers, historians, statesmen, scholars, writers, and armchair travellers.

— kathryn schulz, The New Yorker, "Literature’s Arctic Obsession," 24 Apr. 2017
How did armchair travelers see the world a century ago?

— lisa kalis, WSJ, "‘Looking Backward’: Stereographs from the 1900s," 31 Mar. 2017

First Known Use of armchair

1809

ARMCHAIR Defined for English Language Learners

armchair

play

noun

Definition of armchair for English Language Learners

: a chair with supports for your arms

armchair

adjective

Definition of armchair for English Language Learners

—used to describe people who like to read about or watch the dangerous or exciting activities of other people
—used to describe people who like to give opinions about matters they do not have to deal with themselves and do not have responsibility for