noun
Common
velocity
vuh-LO-suh-tee
Velocity (noun) means a measurement of how fast something is moving in a given direction — speed combined with direction. Example: “The rocket reached a velocity of over 7 kilometres per second.”
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.
"Economists study the velocity of money to see how quickly people spend it."
"When the velocity rises, the same amount of money supports more trade."
"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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
high velocity
terminal velocity
velocity of light
gain velocity
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Word forms
- Plural
- velocities
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").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for velocity
See all rhymes for velocity →Frequently asked questions
What does “velocity” mean?
The word “velocity” means a measurement of how fast something is moving in a given direction — speed combined with direction. In plain terms, how fast something moves, and in physics specifically, speed plus direction combined.
How do you pronounce “velocity”?
“Velocity” is pronounced vuh-LO-suh-tee (/vəˈlɑsəti/ in IPA).
How do you use “velocity” in a sentence?
Here is “velocity” used in a sentence: “The rocket reached a velocity of over 7 kilometres per second.”
What is another word for “velocity”?
Words with a similar meaning to “velocity” include speed.
What part of speech is “velocity”?
“Velocity” is a noun.
Where does the word “velocity” come from?
The word “velocity” comes from Latin. From Middle French vélocité, from Latin vēlōcitās ("speed"), from vēlōx ("fast").
Is “velocity” a common word?
“Velocity” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “velocity” have?
“Velocity” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a measurement of how fast something is moving in a given direction — speed combined with direction.
What is the difference between velocity and speed?
Speed measures how fast something is moving, while velocity measures how fast it is moving in a given direction. In physics, velocity is a vector because it includes direction, whereas speed is a scalar that does not.
What is the difference between velocity and acceleration?
Velocity is how fast something moves in a given direction, while acceleration is the rate at which that velocity changes over time. An object moving at constant velocity has zero acceleration.
What is the velocity of money in economics?
In economics, velocity refers to how many times an average unit of currency changes hands over a period of time. A higher velocity means money is circulating through the economy more quickly.
How do you calculate velocity?
Velocity is found by dividing the change in position, or displacement, by the time taken, and it includes the direction of movement. It is commonly expressed in units such as meters per second.
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