rider

American  

[rahy-der] / ˈraɪ dər /

noun

• riders
  plural

1. a person who rides a horse or other animal, a bicycle, etc.

2. something that rides.

3. an additional clause, usually unrelated to the main body, attached to a legislative bill in passing it.

4. an addition or amendment to a document, testament, etc.

5. any object or device that straddles, is mounted upon, or is attached to something else.

6. a rail or stake used to brace the corners in a snake fence.

7. Shipbuilding. any of various members following and reinforcing primary framing members, especially a plate or timber running along the top of a keel.

8. Numismatics.

   1. a former gold coin of Scotland, first issued by James III in 1475, whose obverse bears an equestrian figure of the king.

   2. any of several gold or silver coins of the Netherlands bearing the figure of a horseman.

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rider British  

/ ˈraɪdə /

noun

1. a person or thing that rides, esp a person who rides a horse, a bicycle, or a motorcycle

2. an additional clause, amendment, or stipulation added to a legal or other document, esp (in Britain) a legislative bill at its third reading

3. a statement made by a jury in addition to its verdict, such as a recommendation for mercy

4. any of various objects or devices resting on, surmounting, or strengthening something else

5. a small weight that can be slid along one arm of a chemical balance to make fine adjustments during weighing

6. geology a thin seam, esp of coal or mineral ore, overlying a thicker seam

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rider Cultural  

1. A provision, usually controversial and unlikely to pass on its own merits, that is attached to a popular bill in the hopes that it will “ride” to passage on the back of the popular bill.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• riderless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• riders
  plural

Etymology

Origin of rider

before 1100; Middle English ridere, Old English. See ride, -er ¹

Explanation

Riders are people who are in motion — riding bicycles, subways, horses, roller coasters and much more. Another kind of rider is a special list that attaches to, or "rides along" with, a contract. The noun rider means "one who rides," but its other meaning is "a document that is added to legal or official documents." On Capitol Hill, lawmakers add riders to legislation documents to try to get certain stipulations to be part of new laws. You may have heard of touring musicians who demand that certain rare flowers be placed in their hotel rooms, which must have Italian linen sheets on the bed, and be exactly 71 degrees. It's all in the rider of the tour contract.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rider riders

"Compared to imported ones like Kawasaki, it's very good value," said 28-year-old rider Yang, who owns an 820RR.

From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026

Li's team has grown to seven members working together to advertise online and to passersby, drive the bikes, and edit the footage, with each rider attracting around six to 12 customers a night.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

According to the release, the e-bike rider was traveling westbound on Warner Avenue west of Plaza Lane when he lost control of the bike.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Pogacar’s signature gesture came the next day when he served as a companion to teammate Isaac del Toro, and helped del Toro secure the white jersey as the Tour’s best young rider.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

"What's it got to do with you if she is?" said the strange rider fiercely, laying hand on sword-hilt.

From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis

In a bid to address "the concerning rise in serious and fatal accidents" involving the motorised vehicles, it is now mandatory for riders to wear a helmet and high-vis vest on public roads.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

Baidu plans to launch services for public riders starting next year via a partnership with Freenow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Suddenly, a motorcycle carrying two helmeted riders pulls up behind the three and Gastelum — wearing a wide-brimmed, western-style hat — turns to the vehicle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

The riders work for the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, the first mosquito-control program in the nation to launch a bicycle brigade, according to Ary Faraji, the district’s executive director.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

The other riders joked him about his boils.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

Related Words

• driver
• passenger
• traveler