bobsled

noun

bob·​sled ˈbäb-ˌsled 

1

: a short sled usually used as one of a pair joined by a coupling

2

: a large usually metal sled used in racing and equipped with two pairs of runners in tandem, a long seat for two or more people, a steering wheel, and a hand brake

bobsled intransitive verb

bobsledder noun

Examples of bobsled in a Sentence

He drove a bobsled in the winter Olympics.

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, bobsleds contain accelerometers and gyroscopes that provide 100 data points every second. —Jared Perlo, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026

As the bobsled run slowly spoiled in the heat, national arguments developed over who should get a chance to practice. —Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 4 Feb. 2026

Clarkson is close to Lake Placid, where the bobsled and skeleton track is, and Florian saw a flyer for open tryouts one day. —Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2026

The bobsled pushers instead tumbled into the side of the track and into each other in a domino effect while the sled continued down the course. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from bob entry 4

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bobsled

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bloodshed
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead

Kids Definition

bobsled

noun

bob·​sled ˈbäb-ˌsled 

1

: a short sled usually used as one of a joined pair

2

: a racing sled made with two sets of runners, a hand brake, and often a steering wheel

bobsled verb

bobsledder noun