roller-coaster

1 of 2

adjective

roll·​er-coast·​er ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər 

ˈrō-lə-ˌkō-

: marked by numerous ups and downs

an entertainer's roller-coaster career

roller coaster

2 of 2

noun

roll·​er coast·​er ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər 

ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-

1

: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) constructed with sharp curves and steep inclines on which cars roll

2

: something resembling a roller coaster

especially : behavior, events, or experiences characterized by sudden and extreme changes

an emotional roller coaster

Examples of roller-coaster in a Sentence

Noun

We went for a ride on the roller coaster.

The divorce was an emotional roller coaster for both of them.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

There were a lot of positives to take away from a Cowboys win that gets them firmly back on track at 2-2-1 after a roller-coaster few weeks. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2025

Cowboys-Jets The Cowboys’ roller-coaster season now takes them to New Jersey for a matchup with the winless New York Jets. —Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

Noun

The Tigers finally lost 3-2, on a Jorge Polanco RBI single that finished the marathon, decided the series and ended Detroit’s roller coaster ride of a season. —Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025

The guest's death comes just under one month after a man died while riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal Epic Universe, Universal's new theme park that opened in May. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1940, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for roller-coaster

• paternoster
• coaster
• poster
• roaster
• toaster

Kids Definition

roller coaster

noun

roll·​er coast·​er ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər 

ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-

: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) with sharp curves and steep slopes on which cars roll