recliner
rih-KLY-ner
/rɪˈklaɪnər/
An upholstered armchair with a backrest that tilts backward and a footrest that extends forward.
Associated with casual comfort, television watching, and relaxation, often featuring a mechanical lever or electronic button.
The story behind the word. The root of the word comes from the Latin 'reclinare', meaning to bend or lean backward. The modern mechanical reclining chair was patented in 1928 by American cousins Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, who founded the famous La-Z-Boy company.
Word relationships
- armchair: An armchair is any chair with armrests, whereas a recliner must have a tilting back and extending footrest mechanism.
Commonly confused with
- chaise longue: A chaise longue is a static, long chair, while a recliner uses a mechanical system to change positions.
Word family
- recline (verb): To lean or lie back in a relaxed position.
Collocations
- leather recliner
- power recliner
- cozy recliner
Example sentences
- "After a long shift at the hospital, the nurse loved to sink into his leather recliner and put his feet up." A relaxing evening at home.
Memory hook
A 'recliner' is a chair designed specifically to help you 'recline'. Recliner: Lean back and relax.
When not to use
Do not use to describe formal, upright dining chairs or delicate antique seating.
Fun facts
- The very first prototype of the modern recliner was made out of wood slats from orange crates in a garage in Michigan.
Related words
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