speedometer

American  

[spee-dom-i-ter, spi-] / spiˈdɒm ɪ tər, spɪ- /

noun

1. an instrument on an automobile or other vehicle for indicating the rate of travel in miles or kilometers per hour.

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speedometer British  

/ spɪˈdɒmɪtə /

noun

1. a device fitted to a vehicle to measure and display the speed of travel See also mileometer

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speedometer Scientific  

/ spĭ-dŏm′ĭ-tər /

1. An instrument for indicating the speed of a vehicle, typically by measuring the rate of rotation of a wheel or fan whose rate of rotation depends on the speed of the vehicle.

2. Compare odometer

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Etymology

Origin of speedometer

First recorded in 1900–05; speed + -o- + -meter

Example Sentences

The reading on the speedometer this week is 9.6, the highest since March 2006.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 6, 2026

With “Eddington,” Aster attempts to chronicle how we reached this moment, holding a speedometer to the commotion and tracking how quickly it all fell apart.

From Salon • Jul. 20, 2025

The clock measures how fast a person's body is deteriorating as they grow older, "like a speedometer for the biological processes of aging," explained Belsky.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2024

She added: "It takes your mind off paying attention to other drivers and taking your eyes off the road as you're looking at the speedometer."

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2023

He pointed a thick finger at a purple button near the speedometer.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling