wheelchair

noun

wheel·​chair ˈ(h)wēl-ˌcher How to pronounce wheelchair (audio)
: 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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The 81-year-old man was in a wheelchair, so he was assigned to a one-person cell, which had poor ventilation. Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024 Now confined to a wheelchair, Woods is out of action and behind a desk, directing his small team on a rogue mission after being framed and hunted by the CIA. Erik Kain, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 Damian Durand said his Chevrolet Equinox SUV is large enough to accommodate a medical passenger requiring a wheelchair, but he isn’t paid extra to transport those with medical needs. Kff Health News, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024 The new generation models can turn 180-degrees almost instantly, which the company says will improve the robot’s ability to navigate narrow sidewalks and reverse out of the way for someone in a wheelchair or a stroller. Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wheelchair 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wheelchair was circa 1684

Dictionary Entries Near wheelchair

Cite this Entry

“Wheelchair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheelchair. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wheelchair

noun
wheel·​chair -ˌche(ə)r How to pronounce wheelchair (audio)
-ˌcha(ə)r
: a chair with wheels used especially by sick, injured, or disabled people to get about

Medical Definition

wheelchair

noun
: a chair mounted on wheels especially for the use of disabled individuals

More from Merriam-Webster on wheelchair

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!