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

Though iPhones have accelerometers, too, Apple doesn’t use them for earthquake detection. —Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2025

The system leveraged the accelerometers inside these devices to gather seismic data, combine it to detect patterns consistent with an earthquake, and deliver timely alerts to people who might be affected. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 18 July 2025

Shaking things up Smartphones come with accelerometers, small devices that enable them to sense changes in motion. —ArsTechnica, 17 July 2025

Ford uses high-tech mannequins inside the vehicle that can measure sound coming from all directions, and accelerometers are positioned on the floor pan and the seats. —Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 25 June 2025

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