odometer

American  

[oh-dom-i-ter] / oʊˈdɒm ɪ tər /

noun

1. an instrument for measuring distance traveled, as by an automobile.

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odometer British  

/ ɒˈdɒmɪtə, əʊ- /

noun

1. Also called: mileometer.  a device that records the number of miles that a bicycle or motor vehicle has travelled

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odometer Scientific  

/ ō-dŏm′ĭ-tər /

1. An instrument for indicating the distance traveled by a vehicle, typically by measuring the number of rotations of a wheel or fan whose rate of rotation depends on the speed of the vehicle.

2. Compare speedometer

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Other Word Forms

• odometrical adjective
• odometry noun

Etymology

Origin of odometer

1785–95, variant of hodometer < Greek hodó ( s ) way + -meter

Example Sentences

He said the state could combat cheating by shrinking the price difference between regular and historic plates, and by pairing mileage limits with odometer checks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Bloomberg Kiel Porter reported he paid just over $30,000 in November for a used 2022 Honda CR-V hybrid with 41,000 miles on the odometer.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2025

Shaun Thomas, 61, a bricklayer from Hastings, unknowingly bought a van from the group which had had nearly 100,000 miles taken off the odometer.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2025

He had the car checked for signs of odometer tampering but didn’t find any.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2024

Neumann One watches the odometer and calls out distances.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr