GPS

1 of 2

noun

ˌjē-(ˌ)pē-ˈes 

: a navigational system using satellite signals to fix the location of a radio receiver on or above the earth's surface

also : the radio receiver so used

GPS

2 of 2

abbreviation

gallons per second

Examples of GPS in a Sentence

Noun

The car comes with GPS.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In January, Consumer Reports released model legislation giving state lawmakers a framework to ban or limit the sale of geolocation data, which uses GPS to identify a person’s movements in real time. — Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026

Most modern cellphone towers have one or more GPS receivers, which collect timing signals to synchronize transmissions, as well as navigation data to boost location accuracy in cellphones in their service area. — IEEE Spectrum, 28 Oct. 2026

The swaps included three GPS satellites that moved off ULA’s Vulcan rocket for launches last year and earlier this year on SpaceX Falcon 9s. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 Oct. 2026

Boitel’s wife noticed that her husband’s GPS tracker seemed stuck in the same spot on the Taconic State Parkway for more than an hour. — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Global Positioning System

First Known Use

Noun

1974, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

GPS

noun

ˌjē-ˌpē-ˈes

: a navigation system that uses satellite signals to find the location of a radio receiver on or above the earth's surface

also : a radio receiver used in a GPS system

Etymology

Noun

Global Positioning System