propulsion

noun

pro·​pul·​sion prə-ˈpəl-shən 

1

: the action or process of propelling

2

: something that propels

Examples of propulsion in a Sentence

Sailboats use wind as their source of propulsion.

Recent Examples on the Web

The upcoming year promises to be an exciting time for the yachting industry, with new design trends, fresh materials, and advances in eco-friendly propulsion systems already shaping the fleet. —Katia Damborsky, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2025

Ahead of the aerospace company are more ground tests and potential modifications to the vehicle to remedy its propulsion system woes and prepare it for routine spaceflight, NASA officials have said. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024

What To Know The Russian tanker Mercury lost propulsion in the Pacific Ocean due to a failure of its main engine, around 30 miles northeast of Simushir island in the Russia's fareastern Sakhalin region, according to Russia's Emergency Ministry. —Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

Their mission was supposed to take between eight and 10 days, but helium leaks in the capsule's propulsion system and degraded thrusters, which are important for re-entry, upended plans for bringing the astronauts back to Earth. —Alex Sundby, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin prōpulsiōn-, prōpulsiō "action of driving out or urging on," derivative, with the suffix of verbal action -tiōn-, -tiō, of Latin propellere "to push or thrust forward, compel to go onward" (with -s- from past participle and verbal noun prōpulsus) — more at propel

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing propulsion

• jet propulsion
• self-propulsion

Kids Definition

propulsion

noun

pro·​pul·​sion prə-ˈpəl-shən 

1

: the action or process of propelling

2

: something that propels

propulsive

-ˈpəl-siv

adjective