velocity

noun

ve·loc·i·ty və-ˈlä-sə-tē

-ˈlä-stē

plural velocities

: quickness of motion : speed

the velocity of sound

: rapidity of movement

[my horse's] strong suit is grace & personal comeliness, rather than velocity

Mark Twain

: speed imparted to something

the power pitcher relies on velocity

Tony Scherman

: the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time : the derivative of position with respect to time

: rate of occurrence or action : rapidity

the velocity of historical change

R. J. Lifton

: rate of turnover

the velocity of money

Example Sentences

particles moving at high velocities measuring the velocity of sound the velocity of a bullet

Recent Examples on the Web Back then Orton was living with Camden friends and trying to make sense of the carnage around her, which seemed to multiply with ever greater velocity.

Matthew Richards, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2022 Pitchers are coached to take their time between pitches and gather their energy to throw with the greatest velocity possible.

Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Nov. 2022 Over the last two and a half weeks, Prescott has progressed to stronger gripping and throwing with more velocity, while under the observation of the team's athletic training staff.

Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 19 Oct. 2022 Wind noise starts at 55 mph and intensifies with velocity.

Car and Driver, 28 Sep. 2022 This adaptation confronts the same issue, and fights back with velocity and volume.

Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Sep. 2022 Kershaw learned how to pitch with diminished velocity.

Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 The ball was often thrown too early, with too much velocity, in his estimation.

oregonlive, 30 Aug. 2022 In 2018, the Brewers took a highly projectable arm with major velocity and an impressive breaking pitch out of Crowder College.

Curt Hogg, Journal Sentinel, 17 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'velocity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.