odometer

noun

odom·​e·​ter ō-ˈdä-mə-tər 

: an instrument for measuring the distance traveled (as by a vehicle)

Did you know?

Odometer includes the root from the Greek word hodos, meaning "road" or "trip". An odometer shares space on your dashboard with a speedometer, a tachometer, and maybe a "tripmeter". The odometer is what crooked car salesmen tamper with when they want to reduce the mileage a car registers as having traveled. One of life's little pleasures is watching the odometer as all the numbers change at the same time.

Examples of odometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This six-year-old McLaren Senna XP supercar, with less than 47 miles on the odometer, is believed to be the very first Senna built, and is the initial Senna XP. —Howard Walker, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 2025

The odometer on this example reads 25,034 km (15,555 miles) and Mecum states that the engine was last started in September 2024. —New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2025

Unlike the smaller, lightweight Raleigh Trace model, Motus has a screen which displays information including speed, battery life, assistance level and odometer. —Trinity Francis, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025

Failing to have a title in immediate possession with the odometer information properly completed. Failing to properly issue a temporary registration. —Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French odomètre, from Greek hodometron, from hodos way, road + metron measure — more at measure

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

odometer

noun

odom·​e·​ter ō-ˈdäm-ət-ər 

: an instrument for measuring distance traveled (as by a vehicle)