deceleration
Americannoun
-
the fact of losing speed, or the act of reducing the speed of something.
Prolonged deceleration of the fetal heart rate is cause for concern.
-
the act or process of slowing the rate of increase of something.
During that quarter, job creation stalled and stocks fell, confirming that there was a deceleration in the economy.
Usage
What does deceleration mean? Deceleration describes a decrease in velocity, that is, momentum.Deceleration describes the slowing of an increase. Wind, for example, moves with a certain amount of momentum. When the wind’s momentum slows down, that is, the wind doesn’t blow as hard, we can say that the wind is experiencing deceleration.Example: The deceleration of the ship came abruptly to the passengers.
Other Word Forms
- nondeceleration noun
Etymology
Origin of deceleration
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 Wall Street Journal poll forecasts a slowdown in retail sales growth to 3% on the year over January-February, alongside a sharp deceleration in FAI to 0.8%.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
Dollar General tumbles as the discount retailer guides for a deceleration in same-store sales growth in fiscal 2026.
From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026
Treasury yields fell across maturities in Asian trade, as markets continued to anticipate interest-rate cuts by the Fed this year after data showed deceleration in January inflation data Friday.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026
The property market is still in the midst of a downturn that started in 2020, though the pace of deceleration is slowing.
From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026
There is literally nothing I can do but hold on until, with no deceleration, we slam to a stop.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
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.
