electric bike

noun

variants or e-bike

ˈē-ˌbīk 

or electric bicycle

plural electric bikes or e-bikes or electric bicycles

: a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that may be activated in order to assist with or replace pedaling

Just like any bike, electric bikes come with a ton of different technical specs that you may or may not care about.

—Adrienne So

For many years, e-bikes carried the stigma of being vehicles for lazy pedalers and seniors. The bikes draw power from a battery and motor to make pedaling significantly easier. You can also accelerate with the press of a button, transforming cycling from a strenuous exercise into a joy ride.

—Brian X. Chen

Examples of electric bike in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As of July 1, anyone riding within town limits must have a valid driver’s license to operate electric bikes and scooters. —Paulina Czupryna, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025

The Active Awards are a particularly eclectic collection, ranging from the best trail running shoes (Hoka Tecton X 3) and the best electric bike (Brompton G Line) to the best smart ring, which is the Oura Ring 4 and best smartwatch, the OnePlus Watch 3. —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

China is the world’s leader in electric bikes, accounting for over 80% of global sales. —Jack Shaw, Quartz, 17 May 2025

Slaton had been riding an electric bike through California after completing a stint as a traveling dialysis technician in Oregon. —Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 15 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for electric bike

• statesmanlike
• unladylike
• alike
• belike
• birdlike
• catlike
• childlike
• christlike
• deathlike
• dislike
• dreamlike
• friedreich