centrifugal force

noun

: the apparent force that is felt by an object moving in a curved path that acts outwardly away from the center of rotation compare centripetal force

Examples of centrifugal force in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One study hypothesizes that this repetitive arm swinging may create a centrifugal force that pushes fluid into your hands and fingers.1 As the exercise ends and your arms stop swinging, the force dissipates, and your body's blood vessels can gradually move the swelling out of the arms. Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2024 Some of these centrifugal forces have originated in the United States and western European countries themselves. Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2020 But time has been unkind to these Sienese artists, who are only given a brief mention in Art History 101 courses, where Florentine painters still exert a strong, centrifugal force. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 Oct. 2024 This acts like a very small rocket thrust, slightly changing the asteroid’s rotation, and can eventually accelerate the spin so much that the centrifugal force overpowers the asteroid’s weak gravity. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for centrifugal force 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'centrifugal force.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of centrifugal force was in 1698

Dictionary Entries Near centrifugal force

Cite this Entry

“Centrifugal force.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centrifugal%20force. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

centrifugal force

noun
: the force that tends to cause a thing or parts of a thing to go outward from a center of rotation

More from Merriam-Webster on centrifugal force

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