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

The story of Canadian athlete turned disability activist Rick Hansen propelling his wheelchair 40,075 kilometers around the world in his 1984 Man in Motion tour to raise money and awareness for spinal cord injuries is already legend. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

Heder’s choice created a massive opportunity for actors like Madeley who has been a wheelchair user since birth. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

In one of the last photographs taken of Astrid, the princess is seen sitting in a wheelchair dressed in all black as royals from Europe and around the world gathered in Oslo to pay their respects to Harald. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Heder and her casting directors Bernard Telsey and Adam Caldwell have assembled a wonderful, winning cast around Madeley (herself a wheelchair user), including a number of disabled performers, cast here as icons in their own right. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 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