wheeler

noun

wheel·​er ˈ(h)wē-lər 

1

: one that wheels

2

: a draft animal (such as a horse) pulling in the position nearest the front wheels of a wagon

3

: something (such as a vehicle or ship) that has wheels

—used especially in combination

a side-wheeler

18-wheelers

Examples of wheeler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Four months after a man was killed in a crash with an 18-wheeler on Interstate 30 in Arlington, the truck’s driver was arrested because surveillance video contradicted his statement, Arlington police said in a news release on Monday. —Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025

The sting took place along Interstate 40, where officials found most offenders with unverifiable licenses behind the wheels of 80,000-pound 18-wheelers. —Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025

Singh’s truck blocked both lanes of the northbound Turnpike, leading the Chrysler Town & Country minivan the three friends were riding in to slam into the semi’s 18-wheeler trailer, crumpling underneath it. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025

The late singer was killed in a car crash involving an 18-wheeler on Saturday, March 1. —Charna Flam, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wheeler

• eighteen-wheeler
• four-wheeler
• paddle wheeler
• stern-wheeler
• three-wheeler
• two-wheeler
• wheeler and dealer
• wheeler-dealer

Rhymes for wheeler

• dealer
• feeler
• healer
• keeler
• peeler
• sealer
• stealer
• repealer
• revealer

Kids Definition

wheeler

noun

wheel·​er ˈhwē-lər 

ˈwē-

: one of a team of horses that pulls from the position nearest the front wheels of a wagon

Biographical Definition

Wheeler 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Whee·​ler ˈ(h)wē-lər 

Joseph 1836–1906 American general

Wheeler

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

William Almon 1819–1887 American politician; vice president of the U.S. (1877–81)