vortex

noun

vor·​tex ˈvȯr-ˌteks 

plural vortices ˈvȯr-tə-ˌsēz  also vortexes ˈvȯr-ˌtek-səz 

1

: something that resembles a whirlpool

… the hellish vortex of battle …

—Time

2

a

: a mass of fluid (such as a liquid) with a whirling or circular motion that tends to form a cavity or vacuum in the center of the circle and to draw toward this cavity or vacuum bodies subject to its action

especially : whirlpool, eddy

b

: a region within a body of fluid in which the fluid elements have an angular velocity

Synonyms of vortex

• gulf
• whirlpool
• maelstrom
• swirl

Examples of vortex in a Sentence

a boat sucked down into the vortex

Recent Examples on the Web

Rescuers ended up using ropes and a piece of equipment called the Arizona vortex, which was invented in northern Arizona. —Holly Williams, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026

Sections of the granite supports of the Keck statue are cannily manipulated and embellished with stars and swirling vortex-forms in Lithichrome paint into works of art themselves. —Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026

And as impressive as its rings may be, the planet also boasts an immense hexagonal vortex almost 30,000 km across at its north pole—so huge Earth could comfortably pass through one of its sides. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026

Their findings, published in Nature, confirm a decades-old theoretical prediction that these points—also known as optical vortices—can move faster than the speed of light under specific conditions. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin vortic-, vortex, from Latin vertex, vortex whirlpool — more at vertex

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vortex

• polar vortex

Rhymes for vortex

• cortex
• neocortex

Kids Definition

vortex

noun

vor·​tex ˈvȯr-ˌteks 

plural vortices ˈvȯrt-ə-ˌsēz  also vortexes

: a mass of whirling fluid forming a cavity in the center toward which things are drawn : whirlpool

Medical Definition

vortex

transitive verb

vor·​tex ˈvȯ(ə)r-ˌteks 

: to mix (as the contents of a test tube) by means of a rapid whirling or circular motion

vortex air into a solution

vortexing noun