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

This segment of the spacecraft provides power, propulsion, and other necessities to keep Cygnus operating in orbit. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025

Neither of Castro’s novels has much in the way of a plot; the narrative propulsion comes instead from his protagonists’ relentless internal chronicling. —Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025

Hydrogen power at its core The heart of Hermione is its hydrogen propulsion system. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025

My thoughts, instead of feeling like they were being released via machine gun, felt like they were launched from an old-timey pistol shot underwater, the propulsion forcibly slowed. —P.e. Moskowitz september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for propulsion

• avulsion
• compulsion
• convulsion
• emulsion
• expulsion
• impulsion
• repulsion
• revulsion
• microemulsion

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