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recliner

American  
[ri-klahy-ner] / rɪˈklaɪ nər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that reclines.

  2. Also called reclining chair.  an easy chair with a back and footrest adjustable up or down to the comfort of the user.


recliner British  
/ rɪˈklaɪnə /

noun

  1. a type of armchair having a back that can be adjusted to slope at various angles and, usually, a leg rest

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of recliner

First recorded in 1660–70; recline + -er 1

Explanation

Have you ever sat in a chair that's designed to tip comfortably back, so you can lounge with your feet out on an attached footrest? It's called a recliner. A recliner is a cozy chair that you could also call a lounger. Many people have recliners in their TV rooms or dens, for especially comfy viewing. The trick of a recliner is right there in its name, recline, or "lie back in a relaxed position," from the Latin reclinare, "to bend or lean back." Recliners have been around since the 1800s, the most famous being the La-Z-Boy recliner, which was patented in 1928.

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Vocabulary lists containing recliner

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.

His wife, the Rev. Raysa Vázquez, woke up every couple of hours and tended to Briany, sitting with her in the brown recliner in the living room, rocking her back to sleep.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

As an homage, Chan sculpted a recliner out of snow in front of his house.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

When he walked into his new living room and sank into his new recliner it felt like home again.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2025

Patients can now see an array of doctors without leaving their recliner thanks to telemedicine.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2024

He plops down in his usual spot on the recliner chair and grabs an old Howard Zinn book that he's read a hundred times.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

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