kick-starter

noun

kick-start·​er ˈkik-ˌstär-tər How to pronounce kick-starter (audio)
: a motor starter (as on a motorcycle) that is activated by a thrust of the foot

Examples of kick-starter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many of the islanders—particularly those in the native coalition—welcomed the new venture as a potential source of jobs, even as a kick-starter for the local economy. Rebecca Panovka, Harper's Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kick-starter was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near kick-starter

Cite this Entry

“Kick-starter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick-starter. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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