What does locomotion mean?
Locomotion means movement or transportation from one place to another, especially the movement of people, animals, vehicles, or objects. The term is especially common in transport, engineering, and biological contexts, where it can refer either to the overall process or to a particular method of movement. In biology, locomotion describes how an organism moves using its own body structures, whether by walking, swimming, crawling, or flying. Its Latin roots mean “place” and “to move,” reflecting its long-established association with movement across space. Although everyday speakers often use simpler words such as movement, travel, or transport, locomotion is useful when a more precise or technical description is needed, particularly when comparing different ways of moving.
The movement or transportation of people, animals, vehicles, or objects from one place to another.
"The company is researching new forms of locomotion for crowded cities."
This is the general sense and is commonly used in transport and engineering contexts.
In biology, the movement of an organism by means of its own body structures.
"The researchers studied locomotion in several species of fish."
This biological sense is technical and often refers to a particular mechanism of movement.
The plural is grammatically possible but uncommon; the uncountable form is normally preferred.
"The study compares the locomotions of several different animal species."
From the Latin words for “place” and “to move,” locomotion is literally movement toward or between places.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does locomotion come from?
The word comes from Latin locomotio, a noun formed from locomovere, “to move,” which itself combines locus, “place,” with movere, “to move.” English borrowed the term in the 17th century in the general sense of movement or passage from place to place. Its established relatives include locomotive, locomotor, and locomote, all sharing the same Latin roots.
Related word forms
How locomotion is actually used
The word is formal and technical in general use. In biology, it is commonly used to describe mechanisms of movement, such as walking, swimming, or flight.
Easily confused with locomotion
Locomotion is the process of moving, whereas a locomotive is a powered vehicle that pulls a train.
A locomotive can also mean a steam or diesel engine used to move rail vehicles, not the movement itself.