Motorized means powered by a motor or engine rather than by human or animal effort. A motorized scooter has a small engine that propels you forward when you twist a throttle, while a regular scooter requires you to push off the ground with your foot. A motorized wheelchair uses an electric motor to help people move around independently, and a motorized lawn mower cuts grass using engine power instead of requiring someone to push it manually.

Before motors were invented, people relied on muscle power, wind, or water to move things and do work. The invention of motors transformed daily life: motorized vehicles replaced horse-drawn carriages, motorized tools made construction faster, and motorized appliances changed how people worked at home.

When something becomes motorized, it usually means less physical effort but more speed and power. A bicycle becomes a motorized bike when you add an engine. A sailboat becomes a motorboat when you add a motor. The trade-off is that motorized things need fuel or electricity to run, while non-motorized versions work as long as you're willing to provide the effort yourself.