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

That means those two points moved away from each other at a velocity of only one centimeter per second, much slower than the endpoints. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Feb. 2026

The firm highlighted the feat makes Bolt the first humanoid robot of its size to reach such velocities outside the lab. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026

Ayers has a plus arm and has plus power, flashing it more in the Arizona Fall League last year (where his exit velocity peaked at 111 mph) than in the regular season, since Myrtle Beach is a graveyard for would-be home runs. —Keith Law, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

In fairness to Slowik, Tua Tagovailoa lost velocity on his throws for unknown reasons, and was playing with limitations in the second half of the season, before being benched. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 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