hoverboard

1 of 2

noun

hov·​er·​board ˈhə-vər-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce hoverboard (audio)
ˈhä-
plural hoverboards
in science fiction
: a vehicle in the shape of a board that floats above the ground and is propelled without the use of wheels
Technically, a hoverboard is a levitating platform (that looks like a skateboard without wheels) that can be used for personal transportation. The term was invented for the movie Back to the Future II, where protagonist Marty McFly travels into the future to discover that teenagers are riding on levitating boards without wheels.Michael Nuñez

Hoverboard

2 of 2

trademark

Hov·​er·​board ˈhə-vər-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce Hoverboard (audio)
ˈhä-
used for an electrically-powered two-wheeled scooter without an upright handle

Examples of hoverboard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The batteries are commonly found in products including phones, watches, e-cigarettes, hoverboards and appliances. CBS News, 14 May 2026 Segways, skateboards and hoverboards. Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026 View gallery - 4 images Mad-as-a-hatter British inventor Colin Furze recently set out to create a real-life version of the hoverboard from Back to the Future II. Omar Kardoudi march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026 The hoverboard was hypnotizing to folks back then. Zach Harper, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026 According to the developers, each season will add new neighborhoods alongside characters, outfits, and hoverboards. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026 The all-inclusive plan includes unlimited massages aboard and water toys that range from mild (kayaks and SUPs) to wild (hoverboards and JetSkis). Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 12 Jan. 2026 After building a flying jet bike and hoverboard, Franky Zapata has created a futuristic drone. J. George Gorant, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025 Initial episodes will cover the hoverboard, how Guitar Hero became a victim of its own success, and the rise and fall of TikTok predecessor Vine, among other topics. Max Tani, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

hover entry 1 + board entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1988, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hoverboard was in 1988

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hoverboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoverboard. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster