# cyclist

/ˈsaɪkəɫɪst/ (US) · /sˈaɪklɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cyclist
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. bicycle rider

noun · CEFR A2

a person who rides a bicycle.

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

- The city built new paths to keep every cyclist safe from the cars.
- Urban planners are increasingly prioritising dedicated lanes to ensure that every cyclist can commute without the constant threat of heavy traffic.

### 2. motorcyclist

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old word for someone who rides a motorcycle.

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

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

## Examples

- The cyclist wears a bright helmet for safety.
- The city added new bike lanes to protect every cyclist from the heavy morning traffic.
- Professional cyclists often spend months training in high-altitude environments to increase their lung capacity before major international competitions.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.