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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

“For him, counterterrorism is kinetic and it’s against one type of enemy: the jihadist enemy,” said an associate who has known Gorka for two decades.

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026

Wind farms work by using turbines to turn wind into kinetic energy.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

Katseye proved no this ain’t their debut at their first Coachella performance, bringing out Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami for a kinetic performance of “Golden” from “K-Pop Demon Hunters.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Neutralization closes the loop: electronic jamming, kinetic interceptors, directed-energy lasers and, increasingly, autonomous counterdrones that intercept targets without human intervention.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

But it bristled with Lawrence’s self-confidence and his manner of intuitively grasping possibilities well ahead of realities—in this case, the production of sustained resonant proton beams with a million volts of kinetic energy.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• animated
• lively
• peppy