# DPS

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dps
Updated: 2026-05-10

## Definition

Stands for damage per second. The amount of damage a character in a game can do every second. You use this to talk about how strong or fast a fighter is.

For teachers: Abbreviation for damage per second. A measure of the offensive output of a character or unit in a gaming context. Often used to categorize character roles in cooperative gameplay.

## Examples

- Our team needs more DPS to win this fight.
- The player chose a high-speed rogue to maximize their DPS during the boss encounter.
- While the tank absorbs incoming hits, the primary role of the mage is to provide consistent DPS from a safe distance to deplete the enemy's health pool.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.