What does bicycle mean?
A bicycle is a human-powered vehicle consisting of two wheels held in line by a frame, steered by handlebars, and driven by pedals that turn the rear wheel through a chain or belt. It is one of the most widely used machines in the world, serving as everyday transport, exercise equipment, sporting gear, and recreation all at once. The word is standard in both British and American English, though informal speech usually shortens it to "bike." Riding a bicycle requires balance, which makes learning it a memorable childhood milestone in many cultures. Beyond its practical role, the bicycle carries broadly positive associations — efficiency, sustainability, independence, and fitness — and it has shaped urban planning through dedicated lanes, parking, and shared-hire schemes. From racing at the Tour de France to commuting quietly to work, the bicycle remains a remarkably simple design that has stayed fundamentally unchanged since the late nineteenth century.
A road vehicle with two wheels, a frame, handlebars, and pedals, propelled by the rider's legs.
"My bicycle needs its tires pumped up before tomorrow's ride."
Also used attributively, as in "bicycle shop" or "bicycle lane."
To ride or travel by bicycle.
"They bicycled across the countryside during their holiday."
Regular plural; used when speaking of multiple bicycles or of bicycles generically.
"Dozens of bicycles were parked outside the station."
When the bicycle debuted in the 1860s, critics called it dangerous and immoral — within decades it had given women new freedom to travel and helped pave the way for better roads long before cars arrived.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bicycle
The word bicycle was coined in French in the 1860s from Latin roots: bi-, meaning "two," and cyclus, meaning "circle" or "wheel," itself borrowed from Greek kyklos. It replaced earlier terms such as "velocipede," which came from Latin words meaning "swift foot." The same Greek root kyklos gives English words like cycle, cyclone, encyclopedia, and unicycle, while the bi- element appears in bipedal and bilingual.
Related word forms
How bicycle is actually used
"Bicycle" is slightly more formal or careful in register than "bike," which dominates everyday conversation. In British English "pushbike" is a common informal term. The word is neutral and carries no strong connotations, though cycling culture often associates it with health and environmental consciousness.
Easily confused with bicycle
A motorcycle is powered by an engine, whereas a bicycle is propelled solely by human pedaling.