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

Accessibility for those with mobility impairments There is wheelchair access in all of the public areas, including the spa and swimming pools, as well as two fully accessible rooms located in Building 2 (the central Bauhaus building). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026

The Democrat is a two-time gold medalist in wheelchair basketball. — Saige Miller, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026

Skip Fisher was aware of his surroundings and understood what was occurring around him, his wife told the Tribune, but his Parkinson’s left him in a wheelchair and dependent on help for daily activities, nonverbal and unable to communicate. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026

Born with spina bifida and confined to a wheelchair after his father was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, Turek is a four-time Paralympian and two-time gold medalist in wheelchair basketball. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Stanley said drivers and bus monitors play an especially important role in supporting students with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Two kids chase a magic key to prevent their friend, who uses a wheelchair, from being forced out due to broken elevators. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026

Here, the movie authentically details what being a wheelchair user, a blind person, or a deaf person was like in 1977. — Kristen Lopez, IndieWire, 2 Nov. 2026

This year's winners were Sweden's Andreas Almgren for the men's, Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui for the women's, Switzerland's Marcel Hug for the men's wheelchair and Switzerland's Catherine Debrunner for the women's wheelchair. — Joanna Moriello, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026

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