motorhead

noun

mo·​tor·​head ˈmō-tər-ˌhed How to pronounce motorhead (audio)
plural motorheads
: an automobile or motorcycle enthusiast : gearhead
If you're a purist motorhead who appreciates precise and agile handling, then this car is not for you. But if you're not regularly driving on a race track or mountain pass, is the … lack of handling finesse really such an issue?—Jason Woosey

Examples of motorhead 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.
Way back in 2021, two motorhead friends were joking around about famous movie road trips. — Outside Online, 7 Aug. 2025 The name Wärtsilä has a definite glow around it in the motorhead community. — New Atlas, 22 June 2025 For instance, pet parents keep an eye out for Amazon vacuums that come with tangle-free brushes to trap loose fur without clogging the motorhead. — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

motor entry 1 + head entry 1 (sense 20b)

First Known Use

circa 1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motorhead was circa 1974

Rhymes for motorhead

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Browse Nearby Words

motor generator
motorhead
motor home
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Cite this Entry

“Motorhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motorhead. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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