motorcycle

American  

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

noun

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

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

McFall, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 19, was selected by the European Space Agency in 2022 for a study on physically disabled astronauts.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

A young man in his 20s died on the sidelines of celebrations on Saturday after crashing his motorcycle into concrete blocks placed on an exit ramp of the Paris ring road, according to local prosecutors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

Sindorf—who had reported three days earlier that a dog charged his wife—said he drew a firearm to protect himself from the animals while riding on his motorcycle.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

That disbelief has also been felt by John Santi, who was 13 in 1976 when his older brother Tony died, aged 19, in a motorcycle accident.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

I’ve noticed that the same group of motorcycle riders comes to have coffee in the parking lot a few times a week, and they’ve started waving and saying good morning to me.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy