wheelbase

[ hweel-beys, weel- ]

noun

, Automotive.

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

wheelbase

/ ˈwiːlˌbeɪs /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheelbase¹

First recorded in 1885–90; wheel + base ¹

Example Sentences

Many e-cargo rigs, especially longtails, have lengthy wheelbases that make them hard to store and a handful to maneuver on tight streets.

From Outside Online

This scaled-down cargo bike has a shorter wheelbase, for nimble handling, but can still carry a week’s worth of groceries.

From Outside Online

This system accommodates wheelbases up to 47 inches and tires as large as three inches and is available in three different colors to match your vehicle.

From Popular-Science

Only when you poke him a little …Darren drives a car with a wheelbase so wide that the guy coming toward him has to squeeeeze past or back up on a narrow street.

From Washington Post

It has a 140-inch wheelbase, which fits in most regulation-size parking spots, and essentially drives like a truck.

From Outside Online

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

From Project Gutenberg