noun
velocity
vuh-LO-suh-tee
noun
1
A measurement of how fast something is moving in a given direction — speed combined with direction.
"The rocket reached a velocity of over 7 kilometres per second."
"Wind velocity and direction are shown together on the weather map."
2
General speed or rate of movement.
"The negotiations picked up velocity once both sides agreed to the deadline."
3
In economics, how many times an average unit of currency changes hands over a period of time.
"A falling velocity of money can signal that people are saving rather than spending."
How to Use Velocity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow fast something moves, and in physics specifically, speed plus direction combined.
Common mistake
In physics, velocity is not the same as speed — speed is just the number, velocity includes direction, so "30 mph north" is a velocity but "30 mph" alone is only a speed.
Common pairings
high velocity
terminal velocity
velocity of light
gain velocity
Word Forms
velocities plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “velocity”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The rocket reached a _____ of over 7 kilometres per second.
Etymology
From Middle French vélocité, from Latin vēlōcitās ("speed"), from vēlōx ("fast").