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

Kids zipped by on Lime scooters, while new fans experienced Mahogany for the very first time. —Shelton Boyd-Griffith, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2025

The teen had been riding a scooter in the bike lane when he was hit. —Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 3 Aug. 2025

Around half of the 17 protesters were in wheelchairs or scooters, which made police have to figure out a safe and accessible way to arrest those who refused to leave, in the end, around 11 of them. —Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 27 July 2025

George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes travels in the paddock on a scooter during the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 29, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria. —Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 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