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• kinetic
  kinetic

  adjective

  pertaining to motion.
• -kinetic
  -kinetic

  a combining form found on adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -kinesia or -kinesis:

kinetic

¹ American  

[ki-net-ik, kahy-] / kɪˈnɛt ɪk, kaɪ- /

adjective

1. pertaining to motion.

2. caused by motion.

3. characterized by movement.

   Running and dancing are kinetic activities.

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-kinetic ² American  

1. a combining form found on adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -kinesia or -kinesis:

   bradykinetic.

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kinetic British  

/ kaɪ-, kɪˈnɛtɪk /

adjective

1. relating to, characterized by, or caused by motion

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Usage

What does -kinetic mean? The combining form -kinetic is used like a suffix meaning “of or relating to movement.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology. The form -kinetic comes from Greek kīnēt(ós), meaning “moving,” from the verb kīneîn, “to move.” The Latin cognate of kīneîn is ciēre (stem cit-), meaning “to move, set in motion,” which is the source of words such as cite and resuscitate. To learn more, check out our entries for both words. What are variants of -kinetic?While there are not any variants of -kinetic, it is related to the forms -kinesis and -kinesia, as in telekinesis and hyperkinesia. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles about these two forms.

Other Word Forms

• kinetically
  adverb
• nonkinetic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of kinetic¹

1850–55; < Greek kīnētikós moving, equivalent to kīnē- (verbid stem of kīneîn to move) + -tikos -tic

Origin of -kinetic²

< Greek kīnēt ( ós ) ( see kineto-) + -ic

Compare meaning

How does kinetic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• kinetic vs. potential energy

Explanation

If you marvel at the kinetic pace of popular cartoons, you are amazed at how lively and energetic the shows are. Kinetic comes from a Greek verb meaning "to move." Used generally, kinetic can simply mean "animated," "dynamic," or "lively," but it also has more specific meanings in the realms of art and science. Kinetic drawings, sculptures, and installations have moving parts. Alexander Calder's mobiles are well-known examples of kinetic art. In physics, the phrase "kinetic energy" is used to describe the energy of motion. Any object in motion possesses kinetic energy, and this energy can be harnessed, transferred, and transformed to do work: Think of wind turning turbines to generate electricity.

Example Sentences

Sergey Jakovsky runs the Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre, which has shows featuring moving sculptures created from found objects.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

The group’s results were also driven by the integration of U.S. ammunition manufacturer the Kinetic Group, it said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Kinetic modeling revealed that the release process followed zero order behavior.

From Science Daily • Dec. 31, 2025

Kinetic antisatellite weapons — the kind that blow things up — make clouds that last decades.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 30, 2025

Such a lack of atmosphere is, indeed, only to be expected from what is known as the Kinetic Theory of Gases.

From Astronomy of To-day A Popular Introduction in Non-Technical Language by Dolmage, Cecil Goodrich Julius

Related Words

• animated
• lively
• peppy