velocity

noun

ve·​loc·​i·​ty və-ˈlä-sə-tē How to pronounce velocity (audio)
-ˈlä-stē
plural velocities
1
a
: quickness of motion : speed
the velocity of sound
b
: rapidity of movement
[my horse's] strong suit is grace & personal comeliness, rather than velocityMark Twain
c
: speed imparted to something
the power pitcher relies on velocityTony Scherman
2
: the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time : the derivative of position with respect to time
3
a
: rate of occurrence or action : rapidity
the velocity of historical changeR. J. Lifton
b
: rate of turnover
the velocity of money

Examples of velocity in a Sentence

particles moving at high velocities measuring the velocity of sound the velocity of a bullet
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But no one in modern memory has done so with the velocity, shamelessness and torrential outpouring of Trump. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024 Despite being fairly straight forward, the velocity of the revisions is the single most important point that short sellers and Nvidia critics cannot seem to understand. Beth Kindig, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 Although that combination has largely favored the offense in digital attacks, an AI era could see the increase of the velocity of response and allow cyberdefenses to match cyberoffenses. Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024 According to the American Meteor Society, the Leonids meteors have a velocity of 43.5 miles per second. Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 12 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for velocity 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English velocite, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French veloceté, borrowed from Latin vēlōcitāt-, vēlōcitās, from vēlōc-, vēlōx "swift, rapid" (of uncertain origin) + -itāt-, -itās -ity

Note: If going back to earlier *ueg-s-l-o-, perhaps a derivative from the base of vegēre "to give vigor to, enliven" (see vegetate) or vehere "to convey" (Indo-European *u̯eǵh-; see vehicle), assimilated to the -ōk- of ātrōx, ferōx (see atrocious, ferocious). Alternatively, a derivative *uē-lo-, from the Indo-European base *h2u̯eh1- "blow" (hence, "windlike"; see wind entry 1) has been suggested.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of velocity was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near velocity

Cite this Entry

“Velocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/velocity. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

velocity

noun
ve·​loc·​i·​ty və-ˈläs-ət-ē How to pronounce velocity (audio)
-ˈläs-tē
plural velocities
1
: quickness of motion : speed
the velocity of sound
2
: the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time
3
: rate of occurrence or action
the velocity of political change

More from Merriam-Webster on velocity

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