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

The car being offered at Bonhams’ Scottsdale Auction is a nearly new example with just 10 miles on the odometer, highlighting its pristine condition and minimal use. —Josh Max, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025

With 3,400 miles on the odometer, this 2024 RS6 Avant Performance went for $127,500 on Bring A Trailer. —Christian Gilbertsen, Robb Report, 8 Jan. 2025

Some of them have been around the block a few times, with more than 90,000 miles on the odometer (145,000 km), but there are others with less than 50,000 miles (80,500 km) on them. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 29 Mar. 2024

The battery did sign off a few blocks from home, with the odometer showing 47 miles from over four hours of heavily mixed riding. —William Roberson, Forbes, 21 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)