motorcycle

motorcycle — noun

1. a vehicle that runs on a pair of wheels and uses an engine for power, on which t

1.nounA2
Definition

a vehicle that runs on a pair of wheels and uses an engine for power, on which the driver sits out in the open rather than inside a cabin

Example

Emily parked her motorcycle behind the café and took off her helmet.

collocation: park a motorcycle; take off a helmet

The old motorcycle in Grandpa's garage still starts on the first try.

collocation: old motorcycle / vintage motorcycle

Synonyms
  • motorbike

    more informal than motorcycle; very common in British English

  • bike

    informal shortening; ambiguous because it can also mean bicycle

  • scooter

    a sub-type of motorcycle with smaller wheels and a step-through frame, not a full synonym

Antonyms
  • car

    a four-wheeled enclosed vehicle

  • bicycle

    a two-wheeled vehicle powered by the rider's legs, not an engine

Usage Note

In everyday conversation, speakers often shorten motorcycle to motorbike or bike. However, bike can also refer to a bicycle, so the context must make the meaning clear.

Common Mistakes

I ride a scooter to work every day.
I ride a motorcycle to work every day.
In Taiwan, scooter (速克達) refers to a step-through automatic two-wheeler with a flat floorboard, which is one type of motorcycle; use motorcycle for the general category.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Motorcycle is the standard, neutral term for any two-wheeled, engine-powered road vehicle. Motorbike carries the same meaning but is slightly more informal and common in British English. Scooter refers to a specific sub-type: a motorcycle with smaller wheels, a step-through frame, and often automatic transmission — common in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Bike is the most informal and ambiguous; it can mean either a motorcycle or a pedal-powered bicycle depending on context. For example: 'She passed her motorcycle license test last week' (standard). 'He rode his motorbike to the pub' (informal British). 'In Taipei, many people use a scooter for short errands' (specific sub-type).

motorcycle ↗motorbike ↗scooter ↗bike ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • ride a motorcycle
  • drive a motorcycle
  • park a motorcycle

Prepositions

  • on a motorcycle
  • by motorcycle
  • off the motorcycle

Etymology

EnglishEnglish

Motorcycle was formed in English around the 1890s by combining two existing words: motor (referring to an engine) and cycle (from bicycle, meaning a two-wheeled vehicle). The name was meant to suggest a 'motorized bicycle' — the very first motorcycles were essentially bicycles with small engines attached. Early manufacturers used the term 'motor cycle' as two separate words before it became common to write it as one.