motorcycle

noun

mo·​tor·​cy·​cle ˈmō-tər-ˌsī-kəl How to pronounce motorcycle (audio)
: an automotive vehicle with two in-line wheels
motorcycle intransitive verb
motorcyclist
ˈmō-tər-ˌsī-k(ə-)list How to pronounce motorcycle (audio)
noun

Examples of motorcycle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For reasons that are not yet known, the motorcycle struck the rear of a trailer pulled by a 1992 Kenworth tractor driven by Jeffrey Pence Sandy, 62, of Romeo. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 Footage of the aftermath showed a truck and several motorcycles that were damaged by the blast. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026 But awards and attractive renderings don't necessarily translate into a viable production motorcycle. — New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026 The motorcycle operates differently from a conventional watercraft, which typically uses a dedicated propulsion system designed for aquatic environments. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for motorcycle

Word History

Etymology

motor bicycle

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motorcycle was in 1894

Rhymes for motorcycle

See All Rhymes for motorcycle

Browse Nearby Words

motor court
motorcycle
motorcyclist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Motorcycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motorcycle. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

motorcycle

noun
mo·​tor·​cy·​cle ˈmōt-ər-ˌsī-kəl How to pronounce motorcycle (audio)
: a motorized vehicle for one or two passengers that has two wheels
motorcycle verb
motorcyclist
-ˌsī-k(ə-)ləst How to pronounce motorcycle (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on motorcycle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about motorcycle

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