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 cabin of a Lusso is a special place, notable for its dash, which prominently positions the huge speedometer and tach centrally and canted toward the driver. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2026

The indictment further alleges that Comer went live on Facebook during the chase, briefly showing police lights flashing behind him before panning to a speedometer reading 105 miles per hour. —Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026

In the old days this would be a dry speedometer cable, but your car like most use electronics not a cable. —John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026

The simple-looking 'speedometer' is actually a touchscreen that can show GPS and a variety of displays for speed, RPM, fuel, music, and more. —William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

speed entry 1 + -o- + -meter

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for speedometer

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

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