armchair

[ahrm-chair]

noun

1. a chair with sidepieces or arms to support a person's forearms or elbows.

adjective

1. theorizing without the benefit of practical experience.

   an armchair football coach.

2. participating or experiencing indirectly or vicariously.

   an armchair traveler.

armchair

/ ˈɑːmˌtʃɛə /

noun

1. a chair, esp an upholstered one, that has side supports for the arms or elbows

2. (modifier) taking no active part; lacking practical experience; theoretical

   an armchair strategist

3. (modifier) participated in away from the place of action or in the home

   armchair theatre

Word History and Origins

Origin of armchair¹

First recorded in 1625–35; arm ¹ + chair

Example Sentences

The next day DaCosta, 35, and Thompson, 42, are sitting in a pair of side-by-side armchairs in a hotel suite amid lights and cameras while on a break from a series of television interviews.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"It's very likely that there'll be those armchair critics out there that will criticise them and feel that they could have done a better job themselves from the comfort of their armchair," he said.

Read more on BBC

It’s not so much that the exhibition itself is negligible, but rather that the interface between an art museum’s basic stand-and-look imperative and television’s gentler armchair mode is awkward.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

These commenters were denounced at the time by New Zealand's defence minister as "armchair admirals".

Read more on BBC

“I’ve seen no reason for the armchair quarterbacks to be criticizing his performance,” said the Texas Republican.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• recliner