aerodynamic
Americanadjective
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having the effect of reducing the drag on an object as it moves through the air or as air flows around it.
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of, relating to, or informed by the science of aerodynamics.
Explanation
If something is aerodynamic, it's designed to move efficiently through air. If a baseball were square instead of round, it would be much less aerodynamic — and nearly impossible to throw straight. Race cars, sleek and low to the ground, are more aerodynamic than the family minivan — in other words, their shape puts up much less resistance to the air that flows around them. It's why they can go so fast. Anything that moves smoothly through the air is aerodynamic, from a greyhound to a racing bike to a golf ball. Aerodynamic combines the Greek aero-, "air," and dynamic, "pertaining to mechanical forces."
Vocabulary lists containing aerodynamic
Elements of the Universe: Aer, Aero ("Air")
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aer, aero
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for March 16–March 22, 2025
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A wheel shield is a piece of carbon that is used to shape and direct airflow around the wheel for cooling and aerodynamic purposes.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Joe Pundyk observed that the Tesla Model Y is both more aerodynamic than the Rivian R2 and more efficient.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
Also, having large frontal areas with an open cargo bed, the typical pickup design generates high aerodynamic drag, a factor that increases consumption proportional to the square of the velocity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026
But his performances have turned around in 2026, for which F1 introduced a new aerodynamic rules philosophy that has led to cars much more suited to Hamilton's driving style.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
Angular nose, wide middle that narrowed into an aerodynamic tail.
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
