velocity
Americannoun
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velocities
plural
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rapidity of motion or operation; swiftness; speed.
a high wind velocity.
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Mechanics. the time rate of change of position of a body in a specified direction.
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the rate of speed with which something happens; rapidity of action or reaction.
noun
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speed of motion, action, or operation; rapidity; swiftness
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u. v. w. physics a measure of the rate of motion of a body expressed as the rate of change of its position in a particular direction with time. It is measured in metres per second, miles per hour, etc
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physics (not in technical usage) another word for speed
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The speed and direction of motion of a moving body. Velocity is a vector quantity.
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Compare acceleration speed
Synonym Usage
See speed.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of velocity
First recorded in 1540–50, velocity is from the Latin word vēlōcitās speed. See velocipede, -ty 2
Explanation
If your rocket is traveling at maximum velocity, it means it can't go any faster. Velocity is quickness of motion or action. A synonym is celerity; a simpler word is speed. In physics, velocity specifically refers to the measurement of the rate and direction of change in position of an object. It is a vector quantity that specifies both the speed of a body and its direction of motion. The noun velocity descends from Middle English velocite, from Old French, from Latin vēlōcitās, from vēlōx "fast."
Vocabulary lists containing velocity
Automobiles
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Word Generation Science - Energy
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Unit 1: Telling Details
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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.
See Examples For:
Scott’s velocity has fluctuated over the past week, but Roberts said the Dodgers haven’t yet found an explanation for the trend.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
The difference in velocity produces shear forces where the two flows meet.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026
It will also test flagging information on its spending-limit tools to users who show a sudden spike in spending velocity, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Executives noted increased velocity on product offerings for things like drive-through stations.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
I wondered if teachers were people who, for whatever reason, couldn’t reach the escape velocity of high school.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
The system learned from detailed computer simulations of ocean circulation, which linked specific temperature patterns to known water velocities.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 22, 2026
The real cause for the explosion in torn ulnar collateral ligaments is now believed to be high velocities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026
To create their 3D temperature model, the researchers analyzed a wide range of geophysical data, including seismic velocities, gravity anomalies, and heat flow.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 27, 2025
And after his early-season struggles to locate pitches or reach triple-digit velocities, the Dodgers have been encouraged with the changes he has made to his delivery and pitch mix.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2025
An object receding from us at very high velocities has its spectral lines red-shifted.'
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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.
