velocity
Americannoun
plural
velocities-
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
Related Words
See speed.
Etymology
Origin of velocity
First recorded in 1540–50, velocity is from the Latin word vēlōcitās speed. See velocipede, -ty 2
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 water comes out in very fast movements, with a high velocity, and it scrapes away all these materials” from the valley, said Sattar, creating a “hyper-concentrated” flood that is savage in its power.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
In that scenario, a spacecraft would strike the object and slightly alter its velocity.
From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026
The fear is that sustained higher oil prices could feed back into inflation, just as many parts of the world thought they were finally achieving some escape velocity.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026
Kershaw’s average fastball velocity dropped to 89 mph last season, but he led the majors in winning percentage.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026
The series of equations we needed to work described the parameters of thrust coefficient, nozzle-throat area, combustion-chamber cross-sectional areas, and velocity of the gases predicted for any particular propellant.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
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.
