noun
Common
momentum
muh-MEHN-tuhm
Momentum (noun) means In physics, a measure of a moving object's motion, calculated as its mass multiplied by its velocity. Example: “A heavy lorry has far more momentum than a bicycle moving at the same speed.”
noun
1
In physics, a measure of a moving object's motion, calculated as its mass multiplied by its velocity.
"A heavy lorry has far more momentum than a bicycle moving at the same speed."
"In the experiment, we measured the momentum of the ball before and after it hit the wall."
"The truck's momentum made it impossible to stop quickly."
2
The driving force or strength that builds up as something progresses.
"After three wins in a row, the team seemed to have real momentum going into the final."
"The campaign gained momentum after the debate."
"Once the project had momentum, more volunteers wanted to get involved."
How to use momentum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe force or drive behind movement or progress — literal in physics, figurative in everyday use.
Common pairings
gain momentum
lose momentum
build momentum
political momentum
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Word forms
- Plural
- momentums, momenta
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A heavy lorry has far more _____ than a bicycle moving at the same speed.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from Latin mōmentum, "movement, moving power" — the same root that gives us "moment."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “momentum” mean?
The word “momentum” means in physics, a measure of a moving object's motion, calculated as its mass multiplied by its velocity. In plain terms, the force or drive behind movement or progress — literal in physics, figurative in everyday use.
How do you pronounce “momentum”?
“Momentum” is pronounced muh-MEHN-tuhm (/ˌmoʊˈmɛntəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “momentum” in a sentence?
Here is “momentum” used in a sentence: “The truck's momentum made it impossible to stop quickly.”
What part of speech is “momentum”?
“Momentum” is a noun.
Where does the word “momentum” come from?
The word “momentum” comes from Latin. Borrowed directly from Latin mōmentum, "movement, moving power" — the same root that gives us "moment.".
Is “momentum” a common word?
“Momentum” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “momentum” have?
“Momentum” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in physics, a measure of a moving object's motion, calculated as its mass multiplied by its velocity.
What is the difference between momentum and velocity?
Velocity is an object's speed in a given direction, while momentum is the object's mass multiplied by its velocity. That mass factor is the key difference: a truck and a bicycle traveling at the same velocity have hugely different momentum.
What is the difference between momentum and inertia?
Inertia is an object's resistance to any change in its motion and depends only on its mass, whereas momentum is the quantity of motion the object actually has, equal to mass times velocity. A parked car has inertia but zero momentum.
What is the plural of momentum?
In physics, the usual plural is momenta, though momentums is also acceptable. In the figurative "driving force" sense, the word is treated as uncountable, so no plural is normally needed.
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