Jump to:

• roller skate
  roller skate

  noun

  a form of skate with four wheels or rollers instead of a runner, for use on a sidewalk or other surface offering traction.
• roller-skate
  roller-skate

  verb (used without object)

  to glide about by means of roller skates.

roller skate

¹ American  

noun

1. a form of skate with four wheels or rollers instead of a runner, for use on a sidewalk or other surface offering traction.

---

roller-skate ² American  

[roh-ler-skeyt] / ˈroʊ lərˌskeɪt /

Or rollerskate

verb (used without object)

roller-skated, roller-skating

1. to glide about by means of roller skates.

---

roller skate British  

noun

1. a boot or shoe with four small wheels attached that enable the wearer to glide swiftly over a floor or other surface

2. a device having clamps or straps for attaching such wheels to a boot or shoe

---

verb

1. (intr) to move on roller skates

Other Word Forms

• roller skater
  noun
• rollerskater
  noun

Etymology

Origin of roller skate¹

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Origin of roller-skate²

First recorded in 1870–75; v. use of roller skate

Example Sentences

Ms. Anderson, who loved to roller skate and attend Michigan State basketball games, was studying to become a doctor because she wanted to help others, her grandfather, Dwayne Thomas, said in a telephone interview.

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2023

At Harlick Skates, a San Carlos, California-based skate-boot company started in 1933, fourth-generation owner Jason Kuhn said roller skate sales started to take off again in 2020.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 18, 2022

But "Running Up That Hill" isn't employed merely to set a tone or place us in an era, like neon roller skate wheels or Scrunchies.

From Salon • May 30, 2022

I rented a Mustang convertible from the airport with my roller derby queen ex-girlfriend and headed to Santa Monica and Venice Beach to roller skate.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2021

Across the street a girl new in the neighborhood skated up and down the sidewalk on one roller skate.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers