scooter

¹ American  

[skoo-ter] / ˈsku tər /

noun

1. Also called kick scooter.  a child's vehicle that typically has two wheels with a low footboard between them, is steered by a handlebar, and is propelled by pushing one foot against the ground while resting the other on the footboard.

2. Also called electric scooter.  Also called e-scooter.  a similar vehicle with or without a seat, propelled by a motor powered by rechargeable batteries.

3. Also called motor scooter.  a lightweight motor vehicle similar to a motorcycle, having a saddlelike seat mounted over the engine and a footboard to rest the feet.

4. (in the U.S. and Canada) a sailboat equipped with runners for use on ice.

5. Pacific barracuda.

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verb (used without object)

1. to sail or travel in or on a scooter.

scooter ² American  

[skoo-ter] / ˈsku tər /

noun

scooters, plural scooter plural

1. scoter.

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scooter British  

/ ˈskuːtə /

noun

1. a child's vehicle consisting of a low footboard on wheels, steered by handlebars. It is propelled by pushing one foot against the ground

2. See motor scooter

3. (in the US and Canada) another term for ice yacht

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scooterist
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• scooter
  plural
• scooters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of scooter

First recorded in 1800–10; scoot + -er ¹

Explanation

A scooter is a small wheeled vehicle. A child's scooter has two wheels and is powered by pushing one foot against the ground. The word scooter covers a wide variety of vehicles. There's the kick scooter that you can use for rolling down the sidewalk, and the motor scooter that's essentially a lightweight, gas-powered motorcycle. Mobility scooters are used by people who need a little extra help getting around, either in the form of a wheeled walker that can be kneeled on, or a motorized wheelchair. The word scooter was originally shorthand for motor scooter.

Example Sentences

The night before our interview, Martel rode around L.A. on a scooter holding onto a friend.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

There are three vehicles parked outside the Allen home - two cars and a scooter - but no one answered the door when countless reporters knocked on Sunday and Monday.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

A blue scooter was parked on the lawn, and a neighbor said he’d seen Allen riding it around the neighborhood.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

A riderless scooter somehow ended up in the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles early Tuesday, causing damage to several cars, according to reports from the California Highway Patrol.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

The kid was licking his ice cream cone, the mom was picking up his scooter, and the sister was glaring at me like she was going to kill me.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio

Related Words

• motorbike