English Reference

Word

accelerometer

Phoneticsac·celerom·e·ter

US/ækˌsɛɫɝˈɑmətɝ/

UK/ɐksˌɛləɹˈɒmɪtɐ/

Definition

n. a small electronic device that measures how fast something is speeding up or slowing down. You find these in phones, cars, and even fitness trackers to detect movement.

n. an electronic sensor that measures proper acceleration, which is the acceleration experienced by the device itself. It is used to detect changes in velocity, orientation, and shock.

Examples

“The phone uses an accelerometer to know when you turn it sideways.”

“Modern cars are equipped with an accelerometer to trigger the airbags instantly during a sudden stop.”

“By integrating data from a high-precision accelerometer with a gyroscope, the navigation system can maintain its orientation even when the satellite signal is lost.”

Examples

simple

“The phone uses an accelerometer to know when you turn it sideways.”

contextual

“Modern cars are equipped with an accelerometer to trigger the airbags instantly during a sudden stop.”

complex

“By integrating data from a high-precision accelerometer with a gyroscope, the navigation system can maintain its orientation even when the satellite signal is lost.”

Real-World Examples

“To measure the movement and precise vibrations traveling through the platform on which the caterpillar sat, we used a device called an accelerometer.”
Phys.org · 2 Sept 2026
“To measure the movement and precise vibrations that traveled through the platform the caterpillar sat on, we used a device called an accelerometer .”
The Conversation · 2 Sept 2026
“HiLight only works when the phone is face down—if the accelerometer detects any other orientation, it won’t light up.”
Ars Technica · 19 Aug 2026

Etymology

From accelerate + -o- + -meter.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference