Word
deceleration
Phoneticsde·cel·er·a·tion, stress on the fourth syllable
US/dɪˌsɛɫɝˈeɪʃən/
UK/dɪsˌɛləɹˈeɪʃən/
Countable & uncountable Physics
Definition
n. the process of slowing down. It is the opposite of acceleration and describes how quickly something loses speed.
n. the rate at which an object slows down; the negative of acceleration. Often used in physics and engineering to describe the reduction of velocity over time.
Examples
“The car's sudden deceleration caused the passengers to lurch forward.”
“Engineers must calculate the rate of deceleration to ensure the train can stop safely within the station limits.”
“While the initial acceleration of the rocket was impressive, the final phase of the mission required a controlled deceleration to enter the correct orbital path around the moon.”
Examples
simple
“The car's sudden deceleration caused the passengers to lurch forward.”
contextual
“Engineers must calculate the rate of deceleration to ensure the train can stop safely within the station limits.”
complex
“While the initial acceleration of the rocket was impressive, the final phase of the mission required a controlled deceleration to enter the correct orbital path around the moon.”
Real-World Examples
“Anthropic head Dario Amodei recently called for AI development to slow down and proposed industry-wide deceleration and regulation, as well as independent monitoring of AI model development.” “The report indicates that "Engine 1's core deceleration stopped, reversed and started to progress to recovery.” Etymology
From de- + (ac)celeration.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/deceleration