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

plural

scooters,

plural

scooter

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

• scooterist
  noun

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

Over the years, a host of A-listers have purchased homes inside the community, including Kourtney Kardashian, her mother, Kris Jenner, supermodel Cindy Crawford, and music mogul Scooter Braun.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 18, 2025

Scooter crime isn’t a one-way street: Owners can be victims, too.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

Since the “Reputation” era, Swift has made martyrdom into a billion-dollar industry, a smart move further aided by her public enemy, Scooter Braun, purchasing her master recordings in 2019.

From Salon • Aug. 20, 2025

The pop megastar said Friday that she had regained control of her first six studio albums, six years after Scooter Braun bought her old record label.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2025

She screamed when she saw Scooter and ran to him.

From "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• motorbike