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wheelbase

American  
[hweel-beys, weel-] / ˈʰwilˌbeɪs, ˈwil- /

noun

Automotive.
  1. the distance from the center of the front-wheel spindle to the center of the rear-wheel axle.


wheelbase British  
/ ˈwiːlˌbeɪs /

noun

  1. the distance between the front and back axles of a motor vehicle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of wheelbase

First recorded in 1885–90; wheel + base 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The latest Palisade is larger and longer, in wheelbase and overall length, than the first-gen model.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 8, 2026

"A total of 14 hives have gone, so they're likely to have been taken in a vehicle similar to a long wheelbase Ford Transit, or a trailer," he said.

From BBC Aug. 3, 2023

It was steered by its rear wheel, using steel cables in sheaves, and could turn in a circle with a radius only slightly greater than its wheelbase.

From Slate Aug. 2, 2022

Off-road, the R1S was a wonder; it has a shorter wheelbase than the R1T and was easier to navigate through the course Rivian had set up.

From The Verge Jul. 6, 2022

Currently, Americans vie in a similar way with the wheelbase and overall length of their cars.

From A Brief History of Element Discovery, Synthesis, and Analysis by Glen W. Watson

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