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chairlift

American  
[chair-lift] / ˈtʃɛərˌlɪft /
Or chair lift

noun

  1. a series of chairs suspended from an endless cable driven by motors, for conveying skiers up the side of a slope.


chairlift British  
/ ˈtʃɛəˌlɪft /

noun

  1. a series of chairs suspended from a power-driven cable for conveying people, esp skiers, up a mountain

"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 chairlift

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; chair + lift

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.

Though residences lack direct frontage on Lake Tahoe—typically the area’s priciest real estate—Martis Camp provides a Tom Fazio-designed golf course and a members-only chairlift to ski terrain at Northstar California Resort.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025

One of Spain's public broadcasters reports that dozens of people remain hanging from the 15-metre-high chairlift awaiting rescue.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2025

Palisades Tahoe reopened Thursday, though KT-22 remained closed, and resort officials said they lost access to the road to the chairlift because of the avalanche debris, leading to delayed openings.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2024

Over a six-minute ride, the chairlift shepherds skiers to an area where they can access multiple runs to traverse 1,800 feet to the bottom.

From New York Times • Jan. 10, 2024

I managed to reach the top of the ski hill only to fall off the chairlift and lose all my gear.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 4, 2024