What does acceleratory mean?
Acceleratory is a formal adjective describing anything that causes or relates to acceleration — an increase in speed or rate. It appears most often in technical and scientific contexts, such as physics, engineering, and economics, where writers need a precise attributive adjective rather than the verb form 'accelerating'. One might speak of an acceleratory phase of a rocket's flight, the acceleratory effect of a stimulus on growth, or acceleratory forces acting on a body. The word derives from Latin celer, meaning swift, the same root behind 'accelerate' and 'celerity'. Though it can be used figuratively to describe hastened progress or development, it remains relatively rare outside specialist prose, and more common alternatives such as 'accelerative' or simply 'accelerating' are often preferred in general writing.
adjectiveRelating to or causing acceleration; having the effect of increasing speed or rate of progress.
- Relating to or producing acceleration, especially in physics or engineering contexts.
- Tending to hasten or promote progress, development, or a process (figurative use).
"The rocket's acceleratory phase lasted just under two minutes before the boosters separated."
"Engineers measured the acceleratory forces acting on passengers during launch."
"The new policy had an acceleratory effect on the company's digital transformation."
Borrowed straight from Latin celer, meaning 'swift', acceleratory shares its speedy DNA with the word 'celerity' — and even with the vegetable celery, once prized by the Romans for its speed-giving reputation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acceleratory
Acceleratory comes from the Latin verb accelerare, 'to hasten', formed from ad- ('toward') plus celer ('swift'), combined with the adjectival suffix -ory. English adopted 'accelerate' in the early 17th century, and 'acceleratory' developed later as a derivative adjective alongside the synonymous 'accelerative'. Its cognates include 'celerity' (swiftness) and 'decelerate', all tracing back to the same Latin root.
How acceleratory is actually used
Formal and technical in register; far more common in scientific writing than everyday speech, where 'accelerating' or 'faster' would typically be used instead.
Easily confused with acceleratory
Accusatory means conveying an accusation or blame, while acceleratory relates to increasing speed or rate.
An accelerator is a noun naming a device, substance, or pedal that speeds something up, whereas acceleratory is an adjective describing that speeding-up quality.