accelerometer

American

[ak-sel-uh-rom-i-ter] / ækˌsɛl əˈrɒm ɪ tər /

noun

an instrument for measuring acceleration, as of aircraft or guided missiles.

accelerometer British

/ ækˌsɛləˈrɒmɪtə /

noun

an instrument for measuring acceleration, esp of an aircraft or rocket

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of accelerometer

First recorded in 1900–05; acceler(ation) + -o- + -meter

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The smart brick contains an accelerometer, a mini speaker and sensors for light, sound and the NFC chips embedded in compatible Smart Play tags and minifigures.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

Most sleep trackers use an accelerometer to measure movement in sleep and track when the user is at rest.

From Salon • May 2, 2025

Study participants wore an accelerometer on their hip for up to seven consecutive days, except for when in water.

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

Agile antechinuses are far too small for an accelerometer.

From New York Times • Jan. 25, 2024

"All I have is accelerometer data. We'll need radar pings at intervals to work out his true final orbit."

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023