cyclist
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of cyclist
Explanation
If you ride a bicycle, you can call yourself a cyclist. It takes a lot longer for a cyclist to pedal up a hill than someone who's driving a car. Cyclist is short for bicyclist. Although you can use either word, cyclist has been more commonly used since the 1880s. Earlier, some people preferred to call bicycle riders "wheelmen" or "cyclers." You don't have to race in the Tour de France to be a cyclist; all you need is a two-wheeled vehicle that's propelled by pedaling, and a place to ride it!
Vocabulary lists containing cyclist
cycl
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for June 29–July 5, 2024
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
cycl
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Hoskins, who was also an Olympic cyclist, jumped onto the bonnet of the car and later held onto the car door as Dennis continued to drive.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
The marketer and former Olympic track cyclist is best known for rising through the ranks at Nike, starting as a mailroom assistant in 1992 and taking on the CMO role in 2018.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
"If a car is parking, the system can anticipate the opening of a door and warn the cyclist," he said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026
For example, a cyclist who suddenly hits a curb experiences a sharp velocity gradient when the bike stops but the rider's momentum continues forward.
From Science Daily ● May 26, 2026
“Whoa,” I yell as we speed through a roundabout, and I grab the handle as the driver swerves to miss a cyclist.
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
They are open to any and all fans who are prepared to spend a few hours by the side of the course to wind up mere inches from the most talented cyclists on the planet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Start-up Wunderfix meanwhile offers repair services linking retailers, customers and shops via an application that allows cyclists to diagnose and, where possible, repair their bicycles themselves.
From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026
It reopened to pedestrians and cyclists ahead of the weekend, although specialist engineers have advised it should close again in "extreme temperatures".
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
Pedestrians and cyclists would have more breathing room.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2026
There was a long, paved road where joggers and cyclists moved in two traffic lanes.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
