A recliner is a comfortable chair with a back that tilts backward and a footrest that pops up, letting you lean way back and put your feet up. When you sit in a recliner, you pull a lever or push back with your body, and the chair transforms from an upright sitting position into something closer to lying down.

Recliners became popular in American homes in the 1960s and 1970s as a way to relax while watching television or reading. Many families have a recliner in their living room, and it often becomes someone's favorite spot. You might hear someone say “Dad's recliner” or “Grandpa's chair” because once someone claims a recliner, they tend to defend their territory.

The word comes from recline, which means to lean or lie back in a relaxed position. You can recline in other places too: airplane seats recline slightly, and you might recline on a beach towel. But when someone talks about a recliner, they specifically mean that special chair designed for maximum comfort and relaxation.