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

On his best nights, when the velocity and command combine, Sasaki blows past batters with a triple-digit fastball and cutting off-speed pitches. — Liana Handler follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Pointing to a recent tranche of videos released by the Pentagon, Gallaudet says the council will try to determine the velocities and rates of movement of UAPs, in order to better understand their nature. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 2 July 2026

Asked what De Vries needed to prove to get the call-up, Kotsay said hitting more consistent exit velocities and growing stronger could lead to the anticipated roster move. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026

For many leaders, however, the path to both is obscured by the sheer velocity of change. — Forbes.com, 2 July 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