velocity

noun

ve·​loc·​i·​ty və-ˈlä-sə-tē 

-ˈlä-stē

plural velocities

1

a

: quickness of motion : speed

the velocity of sound

b

: rapidity of movement

[my horse's] strong suit is grace & personal comeliness, rather than velocity

—Mark Twain

c

: speed imparted to something

The power pitcher relies on velocity …

—Tony Scherman

2

: the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time : the derivative of position with respect to time

3

a

: rate of occurrence or action : rapidity

… the velocity of historical change …

—R. J. Lifton

b

: rate of turnover

the velocity of money

Synonyms of velocity

• speed
• rate

Examples of velocity in a Sentence

particles moving at high velocities

measuring the velocity of sound

the velocity of a bullet

Recent Examples on the Web

Denker said he's been in close contact with the Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art and National Archives along the way and provided them with studies about things like noise, vibration levels and peak particle velocity. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026

Sellers has rare explosiveness for a 240-plus-pounder and flexes a power arm, which shows in both his velocity and distance as a passer. — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

The size, velocity and angle of impact for the asteroid that might have struck Deimos varied in each simulation, as did the moon’s internal structure. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Is the main skepticism that this little bullet at higher velocity will blow to pieces and won’t penetrate and create that internal damage? — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English velocite, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French veloceté, borrowed from Latin vēlōcitāt-, vēlōcitās, from vēlōc-, vēlōx "swift, rapid" (of uncertain origin) + -itāt-, -itās -ity

Note: If going back to earlier *ueg-s-l-o-, perhaps a derivative from the base of vegēre "to give vigor to, enliven" (see vegetate) or vehere "to convey" (Indo-European *u̯eǵh-; see vehicle), assimilated to the -ōk- of ātrōx, ferōx (see atrocious, ferocious). Alternatively, a derivative *uē-lo-, from the Indo-European base *h₂u̯eh₁- "blow" (hence, "windlike"; see wind entry 1) has been suggested.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing velocity

• angular velocity
• escape velocity

Rhymes for velocity

• atrocity
• ferocity
• monstrosity
• pomposity
• porosity
• precocity
• schistosity
• verbosity
• viscosity
• animosity
• curiosity
• generosity

Kids Definition

velocity

noun

ve·​loc·​i·​ty və-ˈläs-ət-ē 

-ˈläs-tē

plural velocities

1

: quickness of motion : speed

the velocity of sound

2

: the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time

3

: rate of occurrence or action

the velocity of political change