locomotion

noun

lo·​co·​mo·​tion ˌlō-kə-ˈmō-shən 

1

: an act or the power of moving from place to place

2

: travel

… interest in free locomotion and choice of occupation.

—Zechariah Chafee Jr.

Examples of locomotion in a Sentence

Walking is one form of locomotion.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than building a robot entirely from scratch, the team competed using the commercial Booster T1 humanoid, allowing researchers to concentrate on AI software, perception, locomotion, and team strategy instead of mechanical engineering. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026

In 1973, scientists at Waseda University in Tokyo built WABOT-1, considered the first full-scale humanoid robot and capable of slow bipedal locomotion, grasping objects and simple communication. — Tim Hornyak, IEEE Spectrum, 4 July 2026

The floating electronic device generates electromagnetic fields that temporarily paralyze jellyfish within range by targeting their pulsating locomotion. — New Atlas, 30 June 2026

Swimming is metabolically the least expensive (near-neutral buoyancy needs no energy to support bodies), flying costs more, and running is the least efficient mode of animal and human locomotion. — Literary Hub, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin locus + English motion

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for locomotion

• commotion
• demotion
• devotion
• emotion
• laotian
• promotion
• lotion
• notion
• ocean
• potion

Kids Definition

locomotion

noun

lo·​co·​mo·​tion ˌlō-kə-ˈmō-shən 

: the act or power of moving from place to place

Medical Definition

locomotion

noun

lo·​co·​mo·​tion ˌlō-kə-ˈmō-shən 

: an act or the power of moving from place to place : progressive movement (as of an animal body)