wheelchair

noun

wheel·​chair ˈ(h)wēl-ˌcher How to pronounce wheelchair (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Stand Up, the feature debut of Dutch writer-director Mari Sanders, follows Vera as she’s drawn into the world of Zander, a 22-year-old aspiring stand-up comedian who has been a wheelchair user since birth — and who wears that fact like a badge of honor. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026 When she was eventually allowed to return to the area — now in a wheelchair — the bag was gone. ABC News, 4 June 2026 Krieger has cerebral palsy and relies on his custom power wheelchair to get around. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 4 June 2026 Despite being confined to a wheelchair 85 to 90 percent of the time, Ali continued to push onward. Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wheelchair

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wheelchair was circa 1684

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wheelchair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheelchair. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

wheelchair

noun
wheel·​chair -ˌche(ə)r How to pronounce wheelchair (audio)
-ˌcha(ə)r
: a chair with wheels used especially by sick, injured, or disabled people to get about

Medical Definition

wheelchair

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

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