Definition of the word hoverboard

The term "hoverboard" was coined in 1989 for a proposed futuristic transportation device featured in the movie "Back to the Future Part II." In the film, actor Michael J. Fox's character Marty McFly floats effortlessly above the ground, propelled by a skateboard-like contraption. The term was revived in 2013 when a start-up toy company, Hoverboard LLC, introduced a self-balancing motorized scooter that riders could control using body movements. The product gained popularity after it appeared in videos featuring widespread celebrity endorsements. Critics, however, raised concerns over safety issues and inaccurate marketing claims, prompting the company to change the product's name to "hoverboard scooter" in 2015. Today, the term "hoverboard" is commonly used to describe this type of self-balancing electric scooter, although it should be noted that it does not, in fact, "hover" above the ground.