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

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was also shot before he was taken into custody, made his brief court appearance on Wednesday in a wheelchair and an orange jumpsuit, CNN reported. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026

Some 600 Para athletes will compete in 79 medal events across six sports — including Para Alpine skiing, sled hockey and wheelchair curling — before the closing ceremony in Cortina on March 15. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026

Para-athletes will compete in 79 medal events across six sports, including para alpine skiing, para biathlon, para cross-country skiing, para ice hockey, para snowboarding and wheelchair curling. —Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026

Sukumaran’s Kumbha is a character confined to a wheelchair who can only move his face. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Feb. 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