motorcycle

American  

[moh-ter-sahy-kuhl] / ˈmoʊ tərˌsaɪ kəl /

noun

motorcycles plural

1. a motor vehicle similar to a bicycle but usually larger and heavier, chiefly for one rider but sometimes having two saddles or an attached sidecar for passengers.

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verb (used without object)

motorcycled, motorcycling

1. to ride on or operate a motorcycle.

motorcycle British  

/ ˈməʊtəˌsaɪkəl /

noun

1. Also called: motorbike.  a two-wheeled vehicle, having a stronger frame than a bicycle, that is driven by a petrol engine, usually with a capacity of between 125 cc and 1000 cc

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verb

1. to ride on a motorcycle

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• motorcyclist
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• motorcycles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of motorcycle

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; motor + cycle

Explanation

A motorcycle is a vehicle with two wheels, an engine, and no pedals. Don't forget to wear a helmet when you jump on your motorcycle! Like a bicycle, a motorcycle has two wheels, but while you power your bike by pedaling, a motorcycle's motor takes care of that. All you have to do is keep it full of gasoline. Motorcycles don't burn as much fuel as most cars, so they are a major form of transportation in many cities. Unfortunately, they're also much more dangerous. When motorcycles were invented in the 19th century, they were also sometimes called motocycles.

Example Sentences

The motorcycle driver, Erwin Alexander Majano of Banning, was arrested a week and a half after the accident.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

The couple were detained in January 2025 while passing through the country on a round-the-world motorcycle trip.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

“We are not afraid to say we believe Indian builds the better motorcycle, and we are not afraid to say Indian is closer to the riders and values that built American motorcycling,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Law enforcement officials also point out that any type of modification to e-bikes might not just be dangerous, but can also transform the e-bike into a motorcycle or moped under California law.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Jonah’s motorcycle comes in second, and again, I regret he’s not here.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam