wheelchair

American  

[weel-chair, hweel-] / ˈwilˌtʃɛər, ˈʰwil- /

noun

1. a chair mounted on wheels for use by persons who cannot walk.

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wheelchair British  

/ ˈwiːlˌtʃɛə /

noun

1. med a special chair mounted on large wheels, for use by invalids or others for whom walking is impossible or temporarily inadvisable

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Etymology

Origin of wheelchair

First recorded in 1690–1700; wheel + chair

Explanation

A wheelchair is a device people use to get around independently if they are unable to walk. You can easily navigate sidewalks, businesses, and schools in a wheelchair, as long as there are appropriate ramps and elevators available. A wheelchair is just what it sounds like: a chair with wheels. When people have injuries or conditions that don't allow them to use their legs for walking, using a wheelchair gives them a new kind of mobility. While the earliest wheelchairs had to be pushed by another person, today you can propel a wheelchair yourself, either manually, by pushing the wheels to move forward, or using electricity.

Example Sentences

"Things are going to need replacing like his wheelchair and the van, they're big things to pay out for which are not what the layman needs," said his wife Anna.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

"If there's a strike, the people around me could run away and leave me behind; I can't get up and move if no one helps me," said 62-year-old Fatima Nazli, who uses a wheelchair.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The first Paralympics in L.A. will open on Aug. 15, 2028, but competition will start on Aug. 13 with wheelchair rugby.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

If you need a wheelchair, let the airline know during booking or at the ticket counter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Without warning I had a vision of Francis—twenty years later, fifty years, in a wheelchair.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt