scooter

noun

scoot·​er ˈskü-tər 

plural scooters

1

a

: a vehicle ridden usually while standing that consists of a narrow footboard mounted between or atop two wheels tandem, that has an upright steering handle attached to the front wheel, and that is moved by pushing with one foot

What pleases parents is the addition of hand brakes, which make today's scooters relatively safe.

—Newsweek

b

: a similar vehicle propelled by an electric motor

The rules are part of the city's attempts to cope with the rapid influx of scooters that have proven wildly popular but also raised safety concerns as they zip around at 20 mph, weaving between pedestrians or darting into traffic.

—Ely Portillo

called also electric scooter, e-scooter

2

: motor scooter

3

: a single-person vehicle ridden while seated that usually has three or four wheels and an open body framework, is typically propelled by an electric motor, and is used especially by those with impaired mobility

… where students with the most severe physical challenges—all use motorized wheelchairs or scooters—live on the first floor.

—Jodi S. Cohen

called also mobility scooter

Examples of scooter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a cool, if truncated, car chase in which AMELIA treats humans like roadblocks, flinging us into traffic by freezing scooters and releasing cash from sidewalk ATMs. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025

Cars, trucks, buses, scooters and motorcycles (with few riders wearing helmets) vie for space in a city of 12 million people. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 17 June 2025

The latest example of that is an electric moped/scooter called the epa-1, developed with fellow Swedes Vässla Micromobility. —Paul Ridden june 17, New Atlas, 17 June 2025

Some protesters threw scooters and barricades into roadways as officers continued trying to contain the crowd. COAST-TO-COAST ANTI-ICE CHAOS CAUGHT ON CAMERA By the end of the evening, APD made eight arrests, noting that a total of four officers were injured and hospitalized in the riots. —Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing scooter

• electric scooter
• e-scooter
• mobility scooter
• motor scooter

Rhymes for scooter

• neuter
• pewter
• router
• shooter
• suitor
• tutor
• commuter
• computer
• polluter
• recruiter
• microcomputer
• minicomputer

Kids Definition

scooter

noun

scoot·​er ˈsküt-ər 

1

: a child's vehicle consisting of a narrow base between a front and a back wheel and guided by a handle attached to the front wheel

2

: motor scooter