What does trike mean?
In everyday British and American English, a trike is a vehicle with three wheels. The word is especially common for a pedal-powered tricycle, but it can also denote a motorized three-wheeler or, among motorcyclists, a motorcycle with a sidecar. It is shorter and more conversational than “tricycle,” and the meaning varies with context: parents may say that a child is learning to ride a trike, while a motorcycling enthusiast may describe a touring motorcycle as a trike. As a verb, “to trike” means to ride one, usually in the sense of a small pedal vehicle and usually as a leisure activity. The forms “trikes” and “triked” are standard. Although the vehicle can be maneuverable and compact, three wheels do not make it automatically safer or easier to ride than a bicycle; the added wheel changes the balance and handling rather than removing the need for care. The name is a shortened form of “tricycle,” a useful reminder that the word covers both pedal and motorized machines without specifying whether the vehicle has pedals.
A vehicle with three wheels, especially a pedal tricycle or a motorcycle fitted with a sidecar.
"They rode their trikes along the river path."
The term is broad and conversational; motorcycling usage often specifically refers to a motorcycle with a sidecar.
To ride a trike, especially a pedal-powered one.
"We triked through the park every Sunday."
This verb is informal and relatively uncommon, particularly outside recreational pedal tricycling.
The regular plural adds -s and applies to all noun meanings.
"Several motorized trikes were parked outside the café."
Three wheels, one word: trike is the clipped form of tricycle, and it can mean anything from a child's pedal vehicle to a sidecar-equipped motorcycle.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does trike come from?
Trike developed in the 19th century as a shortened form of tricycle. The tri- element means “three” and ultimately derives from a root represented in Greek words such as triangle, trilogy, and tripod. The shortened form proved especially useful for referring broadly to pedal tricycles, motorized three-wheelers, and motorcycles with sidecars.
Related word forms
How trike is actually used
The noun is an everyday word and is generally more conversational than “three-wheeler.” In British English it often denotes a pedal tricycle, while American usage also frequently includes motorized three-wheelers and sidecar motorcycles. The verb is less common, informal, and chiefly associated with recreational pedal tricycling.
Easily confused with trike
A tricycle is usually a pedal-powered vehicle with one wheel in front and two behind, whereas a trike may be pedal-powered or motorized and may also mean a motorcycle with a sidecar.
A tribe is a social or ethnic group, while a trike is a vehicle with three wheels.