chronograph
Americannoun
-
a timepiece fitted with a recording device, as a stylus and rotating drum, used to mark the exact instant of an occurrence, especially in astronomy.
-
a timepiece capable of measuring extremely brief intervals of time accurately, as a stopwatch able to record fractions of a second as well as elapsed time.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
an accurate instrument for recording small intervals of time
-
any timepiece, esp a wristwatch designed for maximum accuracy
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of chronograph
Explanation
A chronograph is a device for measuring time. But before you say "so, a clock?" be aware that it's a little bit more specific than that. A chronograph is not just used to tell you what time it is; it's used to measure time with great precision. Think stopwatch, not grandfather clock. Chronographs are used in sports like racing, where a one-second time difference could be what decides whether you've won or lost. They're also useful in astronomy, where it's extremely important to record what time a particular observation occurs down to the last second.
Vocabulary lists containing chronograph
It's About Time: Chron and Temp
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: chron
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
The Reduce’s big brother — the original Speedmaster — was introduced by Omega in 1957 as a racing chronograph, designed with a tachymetre bezel, a face with multiple dials and a stopwatch function.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Launched in 1941, it was the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph.
From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2025
Another inspires a short rhapsody detailing the six-figure worth of a Richard Mille Felipe Massa automatic chronograph with a rose gold skeleton and a flyback function.
From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2025
I consistently saw all three blasters exceeding 100 feet per second on my chronograph, with the Rush-40 and Siege-50 regularly crossing the 115 feet per second mark.
From The Verge ● Sep. 8, 2021
She was wearing a wristwatch, a military-looking one that looked rather like a navigator’s chronograph.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
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.
