skateboard

American  

[skeyt-bawrd, -bohrd] / ˈskeɪtˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd /

noun

1. a device for riding upon, usually while standing, consisting of a short, oblong piece of wood, plastic, fiberglass, or aluminum mounted on large roller-skate wheels, used on smooth surfaces and requiring better balance on the part of the rider than ordinary roller skates do.

   Skateboards were pretty “primitive” back in the sixties.

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verb (used without object)

1. to ride a skateboard.

   She skateboarded during her lunch break nearly every day.

skateboard British  

/ ˈskeɪtˌbɔːd /

noun

1. a narrow board mounted on roller-skate wheels, usually ridden while standing up

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verb

1. (intr) to ride on a skateboard

Other Word Forms

• skateboarder
  noun
• skateboarding
  noun

Etymology

Origin of skateboard

First recorded in 1960–65; skate ¹ + board

Explanation

A skateboard is a board with wheels on the bottom that you ride standing up. If you practice enough, you'll be able to do tricks on your skateboard, or at least ride down the block without falling off. When you ride your skateboard, you can say that you skateboard or skate. The sport or activity you do on a skateboard is skateboarding. The first skateboards, consisting of boxes or boards fitted with wheels from roller skates, appeared in the 1940s. The earliest skateboarders were surfers who wanted a way to practice even when they were on dry land—because of this, they were sometimes called "sidewalk surfers."

Example Sentences

Whatever happens this season, it doesn't seem like Lindblad's going to be swapping the cockpit for something slower like his skateboard any time soon.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

The 18-year-old tells BBC Newsbeat he's been reflecting on how he's done so far, as well as hanging out with friends and learning to skateboard.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

A skateboard was leaned against the fence of the Disney alum’s property, and a “Private Property, No Trespassing” sign was posted on the gate.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

In 2016, Philadelphia razed another skateboard Mecca, known as Love Park.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026

“Don’t call her that,” I said to the skateboard shirt boy.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff