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 Elevators provide access to every floor, and accessible rooms are available, with accommodations such as wheelchair accessible routes, roll-in showers, and a visual alarm for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026

Daniel Romanchuk won the elite men’s wheelchair division, with a final time of 19 minutes, successfully defending his title after last year’s victory. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 10 July 2026

Among the cases that continue to haunt her is that of a 9-year-old girl who was unable to speak, feed herself or walk without a wheelchair. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

Disability rights advocates fought for years to have towns and cities install curb cuts — a slope from the sidewalk to the street that lets a wheelchair user cross the road easily and safely. — Ashley Milne-Tyte, NPR, 9 July 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