English Reference
noun

cyclist

n.
US /ˈsaɪkəɫɪst/ UK /sˈaɪklɪst/ cy·clist UK spelling cyclists

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    a person who rides a bicycle.

    a person who rides a bicycle, especially one who does so habitually or competitively.

    Simple

    The city built new paths to keep every cyclist safe from the cars.

    In context

    Urban planners are increasingly prioritising dedicated lanes to ensure that every cyclist can commute without the constant threat of heavy traffic.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Archaic

    an old word for someone who rides a motorcycle.

    a person who rides a motorcycle; this usage is largely obsolete in modern English.

    Simple

    In the old newspaper, the man on the motorbike was called a cyclist.

    In context

    The early twentieth-century manual referred to the motorised rider as a cyclist, a term that has since been restricted to pedal-powered transport.

    Usage

    In modern contexts, this almost exclusively refers to bicycle riders; using it for motorcycles will cause confusion.


From cycle + -ist, 1882.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated