speedometer

noun

speed·​om·​e·​ter spi-ˈdä-mə-tər 

1

: an instrument for indicating speed : tachometer

2

: an instrument for indicating distance traversed as well as speed of travel

also : odometer

Examples of speedometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The interior, meanwhile, is covered in period-appropriate black vinyl upholstery and features a woodgrain steering wheel and a 140-mph speedometer. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 May 2026

The car died on my last day of college, a half-decade after its speedometer broke at 124,000 miles. —Laura Moser, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026

When that occurs, the instrument panel display fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer and warning lights. —Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 May 2026

Well, that's a mystery, as, according to Ed, the speedometer, odometer, and fuel gauge don't work. —Noel Brennan, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

speed entry 1 + -o- + -meter

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for speedometer

• barometer
• chronometer
• geometer
• hydrometer
• hygrometer
• kilometer
• micrometer
• odometer
• photometer
• psychrometer
• pycnometer
• pyrometer

Kids Definition

speedometer

noun

speed·​om·​e·​ter spi-ˈdäm-ət-ər 

1

: an instrument that measures speed

2

: an instrument that both measures speed and records distance traveled