wheelchair

noun

wheel·​chair ˈ(h)wēl-ˌcher How to pronounce wheelchair (audio)
: a chair mounted on wheels especially for the use of disabled persons

Examples of wheelchair in a Sentence

He was in a wheelchair for several months after the accident.
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.
Detectives reviewed hospital surveillance footage, which showed Lawson in a wheelchair facing the woman. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 Casa Brera has accommodations for the hearing impaired and wheelchair accessible showers. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 One of them was in a wheelchair and the others had walkers or other mobility aids. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 But for people who use wheelchairs, those experiences can be out of reach. — Nicholas Boeke, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Buckwalter, a research psychologist, became quadriplegic after a teenage diving accident and uses a wheelchair. — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 In one memorable scene, Tom appears with a medical halo around his head while in a wheelchair. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026 The child, who is in a wheelchair and was shot in the face, is recovering from surgery. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026 Hasan is confined to a wheelchair; he was paralyzed as a result of the firefight that ended his shooting spree. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wheelchair was circa 1684

Phrases Containing wheelchair

Rhymes for wheelchair

See All Rhymes for wheelchair

Browse Nearby Words

wheel chain
wheelchair
wheelchair ramp
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wheelchair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheelchair. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wheelchair

noun
wheel·​chair -ˌche(ə)r How to pronounce wheelchair (audio)
-ˌcha(ə)r
: a chair with wheels used especially by sick, injured, or disabled people to get about

Medical Definition

wheelchair

noun
wheel·​chair ˈhwē(ə)l-ˌche(ə)r, ˈwē(ə)l-, -ˌcha(ə)r How to pronounce wheelchair (audio)
: a chair mounted on wheels especially for the use of disabled individuals
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