armchair

1 of 2

noun

arm·​chair ˈärm-ˌcher How to pronounce armchair (audio)
: a chair with armrests

armchair

2 of 2

adjective

1
: remote from direct dealing with problems : theoretical rather than practical
armchair strategists
2
: sharing vicariously in another's experiences
an armchair traveler

Examples of armchair in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
One group can gather around the table and another can sit and chat on the sofa and armchairs. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2024 Despite theories by some armchair sleuths, the Zodiac’s identity continues to be a mystery. Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Over the weekend, the scandal-prone Swiss lender became a trending topic among armchair investors on Twitter and Reddit forums, who speculated that the bank was in trouble. Margot Patrick, WSJ, 3 Oct. 2022 There is an army of armchair retail traders hell-bent on chasing the entire electric vehicle supply chain. Moneyshow, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2021 See all Example Sentences for armchair 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'armchair.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1585, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of armchair was in 1585

Dictionary Entries Near armchair

Cite this Entry

“Armchair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/armchair. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

armchair

noun
arm·​chair
ˈärm-ˌche(ə)r,
-ˌcha(ə)r;
ˈarm-ˈche(ə)r,
-ˈcha(ə)r
: a chair with supports for a person's arms
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!