noun A2 Elementary Uncommon

armchair

AHMT-sheh-uh

Armchair (noun) means a chair with side supports for resting the arms. Example: “He fell asleep in the armchair after dinner.”

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

Word forms

armchaired past tense, armchairs plural, armchairs singular

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He fell asleep in the _____ after dinner.

Etymology

From arm + chair.

Rhymes for armchair

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

See all rhymes for armchair →

Frequently asked questions

What does “armchair” mean?

The word “armchair” means a chair with side supports for resting the arms. In plain terms, a padded chair with armrests; figuratively, describes people who opine from the sidelines rather than direct experience.

How do you pronounce “armchair”?

“Armchair” is pronounced AHMT-sheh-uh (/ˈɑɹmt͡ʃɛɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “armchair” in a sentence?

Here is “armchair” used in a sentence: “He fell asleep in the armchair after dinner.”

What part of speech is “armchair”?

Depending on how it is used, “armchair” can be a noun and an adjective.

Is “armchair” a common word?

“Armchair” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “armchair” have?

“Armchair” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a chair with side supports for resting the arms.