millisecond

noun

mil·​li·​sec·​ond ˈmi-lə-ˌse-kənd 

-kənt

: one thousandth of a second

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A millisecond isn't long enough for the blink of an eye, but a few milliseconds may determine the winner of a swim race or a hundred-yard dash. With the ever-increasing speed of modern technology, even a millisecond has started to seem a little sluggish; computer operations are now measured in nanoseconds—that is, billionths of a second.

Examples of millisecond in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most research on face processing in autism focuses on a biomarker known as the N170, which refers to a shift in brain activity that occurs 170 milliseconds after seeing a face. — Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

There’s even a tire failure-detection system that helps stabilize the car by transferring torque across the remaining wheels in milliseconds. — New Atlas, 25 July 2026

And remember traders only need a millisecond head start to make a fortune. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 23 July 2026

Power control at millisecond speed The company says the technology can also increase the amount of energy infrastructure that existing networks can handle. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for millisecond

• femtosecond
• microsecond
• nanosecond
• picosecond
• beckoned
• reckoned
• second
• seconde

Kids Definition

millisecond

noun

mil·​li·​sec·​ond ˈmil-ə-ˌsek-ənd 

also -ənt

: one thousandth of a second

Medical Definition

millisecond

noun

mil·​li·​sec·​ond ˈmil-ə-ˌsek-ənd, -ənt 

: one thousandth of a second

—abbreviation ms, msec