accelerometer

noun

ac·​cel·​er·​om·​e·​ter ik-ˌse-lə-ˈrä-mə-tər 

ak-

: an instrument for measuring acceleration or for detecting and measuring vibrations

Examples of accelerometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Advanced fall detection systems utilize a fusion of sensors, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and, in certain instances, barometric sensors, to detect the sudden pattern of motion and impact typical of falls. —Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026

An internal accelerometer enables automatic orientation detection. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026

The accelerometers used also couldn’t capture all types of movement, such as swimming. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Jan. 2026

The setup comes with onboard sensors that track rider behavior through a gyroscope/accelerometer, which would then pass through a CAN Bus Interface and reach the rider through haptic feedback. —New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French accéléromètre, from accélérer "to accelerate" (borrowed from Latin accelerāre) + -o- -o- + -mètre -meter

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for accelerometer

• interferometer
• potentiometer
• spectrophotometer
• anemometer
• audiometer
• densitometer
• diffractometer
• dilatometer
• dynamometer
• electrometer
• extensometer
• goniometer

Kids Definition

accelerometer

noun

ac·​cel·​er·​om·​e·​ter ik-ˌsel-ə-ˈräm-ət-ər 

ak-

: an instrument for measuring acceleration or for detecting and measuring vibrations

Medical Definition

accelerometer

noun

ac·​cel·​er·​om·​e·​ter ik-ˌsel-ə-ˈräm-ət-ər, ak- 

: an instrument for measuring acceleration or for detecting and measuring vibrations