스쿠터(scooter)는 이륜차의 일종이며 언더본 프레임에 카울을 달아 사용하는 이륜차를 가리킨다. 자동차로 비유하면 세단으로 볼 수 있다. 흔히 알려져 있는 자동 변속기 사용 여부는 스쿠터 기준이 아니며, 스쿠터도 과거 수동 변속기를 사용했었다. 경쾌한 주행성능 및 주행조작의 간편성 등의 특성으로 인하여 오토바이 전체 판매량의 90%이상은 스쿠터이다. 모터 스쿠터는 의자, 플로어보드, 작거나 낮은 바퀴가 있는 킥 스쿠터와 유사한 이륜차이다.[1]
《The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary》 i판. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. 1968 [1956]. 1808–09쪽. 3. A child's toy consisting of a narrow flat piece of wood on low wheels, with a steering-handle, propelled by pushing with one foot on the ground; also, a similar machine propelled by a motor
Gove, Philip Babcock, 편집. (1966). 《Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged》. Springfield, Mass. USA: G & C Merriam. 1476, 2035쪽. ISBN0-7135-1037-4. a low 2- or 3-wheeled automotive vehicle resembling a child's scooter, having a seat so that the rider does not straddle the engine, sometimes having a parcel compartment, but having smaller wheels and being less powerful than a motorcycle.
《Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary》. Cleveland OH USA: The World Publishing Company. 1970. 1625쪽. ISBN0-529-04852-3. 1. a child's vehicle, consisting of a low, narrow footboard with a wheel at each end, the front one attached to a handlebar for steering: it is moved by a series of pushes made by one foot against the ground. 2. a somewhat similar vehicle equipped with a seat and propelled by a small internal-combustion engine: in full motor scooter
《The Living Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language》. The English Language Institute of America. 1973. 624쪽. ISBN0-8326-0001-6. motor scooter, n A scooter like vehicle usu. having two wheels separated by a low footboard, and equipped with a motor and a seat for the driver
《Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus》 3판. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publications. 2004. 776쪽. ISBN0-00-718139-6. motor scootern a light motorcycle with small wheels and an enclosed engine. Often shortened to scooter
《Chambers Concise Dictionary》. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrup Publishers. 2004. 1084쪽. ISBN0-550-10072-5. 2. (in fullmotor scooter) a small-wheeled motorcycle with a protective front shield curving back to form a support for the feet
《World Book Dictionary》. World Book Inc. 2005. 1356쪽. ISBN0-7166-0105-2. motor scooter: A vehicle like a child's scooter, except that the driver is seated. It is run by a motor.