wheelbase

American

[hweel-bays, weel-] / ˈʰwilˌbeɪs, ˈwil- /

noun

Automotive.

the distance from the center of the front-wheel spindle to the center of the rear-wheel axle.

wheelbase British

/ ˈwiːlˌbeɪs /

noun

the distance between the front and back axles of a motor vehicle

"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 wheelbase

First recorded in 1885–90; wheel + base ¹

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.

See Examples For:

wheelbase

Compared to gas-powered Cayennes, the EV rides on a 5-inch-longer wheelbase and sits a bit lower overall, but the differences are overwhelmed by the family resemblance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

"A total of 14 hives have gone, so they're likely to have been taken in a vehicle similar to a long wheelbase Ford Transit, or a trailer," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2023

It was steered by its rear wheel, using steel cables in sheaves, and could turn in a circle with a radius only slightly greater than its wheelbase.

From Slate ● Aug. 2, 2022

Grid View The wheels and lift changes accompany an extended wheelbase, which the Mopar team was able to stretch 12 inches from the gas Wrangler model, allowing space for the electric drivetrain.

From The Verge ● Apr. 8, 2022

Currently, Americans vie in a similar way with the wheelbase and overall length of their cars.

From A Brief History of Element Discovery, Synthesis, and Analysis by Glen W. Watson

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023