wheelchair

noun

wheel·​chair ˈ(h)wēl-ˌcher 

: a chair mounted on wheels especially for the use of disabled persons

Examples of wheelchair in a Sentence

He was in a wheelchair for several months after the accident.

Recent Examples on the Web

Russell sleeps, bathes and eats in the living room because his wheelchair can’t fit through narrow halls and doorways. —Addie Costello, jsonline.com, 5 Nov. 2025

Robert Koehler, 66, stood from his wheelchair showing little emotion as the verdict was read. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025

Each of the male and female wheelchair division winners won $50,000, the largest wheelchair division prize in race history. —NPR, 2 Nov. 2025

Third through sixth-place wheelchair finishers also take home part of a total of $250,000 for men’s and women’s wheelchair racers. —Bette Canter, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1684, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing wheelchair

• wheelchair ramp

Rhymes for wheelchair

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids Definition

wheelchair

noun

wheel·​chair -ˌche(ə)r 

-ˌcha(ə)r

: a chair with wheels used especially by sick, injured, or disabled people to get about

Medical Definition

wheelchair

noun

wheel·​chair ˈhwē(ə)l-ˌche(ə)r, ˈwē(ə)l-, -ˌcha(ə)r 

: a chair mounted on wheels especially for the use of disabled individuals