wheelchair

IPA/ˈwiːltʃeə(r)/
KK[wˈiltʃˌɛr]IPA/ˈwiːltʃer/

wheelchair — noun

  • wheelchairsingular
  • wheelchairsplural

1. a seat fitted with wheels that allows someone who has difficulty walking to move

1.nounA2
Definition

a seat fitted with wheels that allows someone who has difficulty walking to move around without help

Example

After the accident, Rafael used a wheelchair for six months while his legs healed.

collocation: use a wheelchair

The museum added a wide ramp so that visitors in wheelchairs can reach every room.

collocation: in a wheelchair

Common collocations
  • use a wheelchair
  • need a wheelchair
  • in a wheelchair
  • wheelchair user
  • wheelchair ramp
  • wheelchair accessible
  • wheelchair spaces
  • push a wheelchair
  • motorised wheelchair

Usage Note

Commonly used with the verbs 'use' and 'need', and in the prepositional phrase 'in a wheelchair'. The older expression 'confined to a wheelchair' is now often avoided; 'uses a wheelchair' or 'is a wheelchair user' is preferred in many contexts.

Word family

  • wheelchair-bound
    adjectiveB2
  • wheelchair user
    nounA2

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • confined to a wheelchair (dated)

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishOld FrenchEnglish

A straightforward compound of 'wheel' (from Old English 'hwēol', meaning a circular frame that turns) and 'chair' (from Old French 'chaiere', meaning a seat). The word first appeared in the early 1700s, though wheeled chairs for transporting people existed long before. The modern folding wheelchair was invented in the 1930s.