motocross

American  

[moh-toh-kraws, -kros] / ˈmoʊ toʊˌkrɔs, -ˌkrɒs /

noun

motocrosses plural

1. a timed motorcycle race over a closed course consisting of a winding dirt trail with hills, jumps, sharp turns, and often muddy terrain. MX

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motocross British  

/ ˈməʊtəˌkrɒs /

noun

1. a motorcycle race across very rough ground

2. another name for rallycross See also autocross

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• motocrosses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of motocross

First recorded in 1945–50; from French: equivalent to moto(rcycle) + cross(-country)

Explanation

Motocross, or MX, is a high-intensity, physically demanding form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed dirt circuits. The sport of motocross involves riders competing side-by-side, racing over dirt mounds and banked corners. The term motocross originated in the 1940s as a portmanteau of the French moto (short for motocyclette, meaning "motorcycle") and the English cross-country. The sport evolved from an English version called scrambling, and became popular in the U.S. in the 1960s. Modern motocross, or "dirt bike" racing, features mass starts of up to 40 riders charging toward the first turn of the track to gain an advantage in the race. MX is a high-intensity, physically demanding sport.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

motocross motocrosses

There are also synchronized motocross jumps in front of the White House, which feels like a 12-year-old’s doodle come to life.

From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026

The Paris public prosecutor's office announced the death of a young man in his twenties after he crashed head-on into concrete blocks on a Paris ring road exit ramp on his motocross bike.

From Barron's ● May 31, 2026

Before Monday's return to Sunderland in the Premier League, Pickford sat down with Kelly Somers to talk about his childhood, taking his son to football training and a love of motocross.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2025

The games, which include skateboarding, BMX and motocross, had been based in the Southland since 2021.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2024

“Aw, I just sprained it when I tried to ride my bike in the mud. I was trying to get ready for the first motocross race this spring.”

From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary

The matchup between the Big Os was almost enough to block out all the dancing girls, jumping boys, fireworks, laser lights, eardrum-pounding music and halftime motocrosses that are part of the show in Orlando.

From Time Magazine Archive