motorcycle

American  

[moh-ter-sahy-kuhl] / ˈmoʊ tərˌsaɪ kəl /

noun

1. a motor vehicle similar to a bicycle but usually larger and heavier, chiefly for one rider but sometimes having two saddles or an attached sidecar for passengers.

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verb (used without object)

motorcycled, motorcycling

1. to ride on or operate a motorcycle.

motorcycle British  

/ ˈməʊtəˌsaɪkəl /

noun

1. Also called: motorbike.  a two-wheeled vehicle, having a stronger frame than a bicycle, that is driven by a petrol engine, usually with a capacity of between 125 cc and 1000 cc

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verb

1. to ride on a motorcycle

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• motorcyclist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of motorcycle

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; motor + cycle

Explanation

A motorcycle is a vehicle with two wheels, an engine, and no pedals. Don't forget to wear a helmet when you jump on your motorcycle! Like a bicycle, a motorcycle has two wheels, but while you power your bike by pedaling, a motorcycle's motor takes care of that. All you have to do is keep it full of gasoline. Motorcycles don't burn as much fuel as most cars, so they are a major form of transportation in many cities. Unfortunately, they're also much more dangerous. When motorcycles were invented in the 19th century, they were also sometimes called motocycles.

Example Sentences

The rest of the motorcycle industry is clearly aware of the trend.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Among the video’s more surreal moments are depictions of Trump riding a camel through the desert, traveling through India on a motorcycle, appearing as an anime-style warrior and sharing tacos with world leaders.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

The records showed plans for deploying roughly 20 motorcycle officers to clear traffic along the proposed route from one Porsche dealership in Santa Clarita to another in Woodland Hills.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

Uganda has barred buses, taxis and motorcycle taxis from crossing the Congo border and banned flights to and from Congolese airports.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

I’ve noticed that the same group of motorcycle riders comes to have coffee in the parking lot a few times a week, and they’ve started waving and saying good morning to me.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy