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

Example Sentences

"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

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Grayce is a happy three-year-old, who loves going to nursery, playing music and whizzing about in her wheelchair - things her parents weren't always sure she would achieve.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

A manually operated wheelchair can run as much as $2,000, Ives-Rublee said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

He nods at me, comes around the counter to kneel by the wheelchair, and reaches his right hand out to do a special handshake that he’s been trying to teach Mr. Ram.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali