noun

armchair

AHMT-sheh-uh

noun

A chair with side supports for resting the arms.

"He fell asleep in the armchair after dinner."

adjective

Describing someone who comments or gives opinions on a subject without real experience or involvement.

"Every armchair critic online had an opinion about the manager's tactics."

"He's an armchair expert on foreign policy who has never left the country."

How to Use Armchair

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA padded chair with armrests; figuratively, describes people who opine from the sidelines rather than direct experience.

Common mistake

The figurative sense ("armchair critic") is always at least mildly dismissive — it implies the person lacks real hands-on experience.

Common pairings

armchair critic armchair expert armchair traveller

armchaired past tense, armchairs plural, armchairs singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

He fell asleep in the _____ after dinner.

From arm + chair.

air hair pair fair lair Nair chair stair flair Adair Clair affair