Ferris wheel

American  

[fer-is] / ˈfɛr ɪs /

noun

Ferris wheels plural

1. an amusement ride consisting of a large upright wheel rotating on a fixed stand and having seats around its rim suspended freely so that they remain right side up as they revolve.

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Ferris wheel British  

/ ˈfɛrɪs /

noun

1. a fairground wheel having seats freely suspended from its rim; the seats remain horizontal throughout its rotation

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Ferris wheels
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Ferris wheel

1890–95; named after G. W. G. Ferris (died 1896), American engineer

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Ferris wheel

The celebrations feature a 110-foot Ferris wheel in Washington, D.C., and an 85,000-shell fireworks display in New York.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

And theoretically fairgoers could have had fun on the Ferris wheel, though I didn’t see anyone lining up for that.

From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026

The only ride was a massive Ferris wheel that didn’t work half the time.

From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026

Organizers have promised attractions ranging from regional food and cultural displays to a 110-foot Ferris wheel, a restored Smithsonian carousel, military bands and a red-white-and-blue "250" projected onto the Washington Monument.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

Down snaked a ladder that was outlined in pretty lights like a Ferris wheel.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut