What does pedometer mean?
A pedometer is an instrument that measures how far someone has walked by counting footsteps. It is especially associated with walking and fitness, although digital versions may also calculate distance using motion sensors and store information such as step totals, calories, or time spent active. Pedometers became particularly popular in the late 20th century as inexpensive electronic devices and, later, smartphone applications made activity tracking widely accessible. The word can also refer to a basic counting mechanism that estimates distance rather than measuring it with absolute precision. In research and public-health contexts, pedometers are often used to assess habitual physical activity, with the number of recorded steps serving as a practical measure of movement. The term combines the Greek roots for “foot” and “measure,” reflecting the original principle of calculating stride length from counted steps.
nounA small device or instrument that measures the distance a person has walked, usually by counting footsteps. Modern pedometers may also record calories, speed, or time.
- A device that measures the distance traveled by counting a person’s footsteps.
"She checked her pedometer and found that she had walked more than five miles."
"The trail’s steep climb made the old pedometer difficult to use."
"Researchers used pedometers to estimate the participants’ daily levels of physical activity."
The standard plural of pedometer.
"The clinic provided pedometers to participants in the walking study."
A pedometer turns ordinary footsteps into a record of travel, making movement measurable one step at a time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of pedometer
The word pedometer combines the Greek roots pous, meaning “foot,” and metron, meaning “measure.” It developed through Latin and French forms meaning a device for measuring the feet or steps. The same Greek roots appear in related words such as pedestrian, which originally referred to someone going on foot, and metronome, a mechanism that keeps time.
Related word forms
How pedometer is actually used
The word is used in both British and American English. It commonly refers to a wearable or handheld device, while “pedometer app” is often used for the digital equivalent. The word can suggest a simple step-counting device rather than a comprehensive fitness tracker.
Easily confused with pedometer
A pedometer estimates distance by counting steps and is intended for walking or running, whereas an odometer measures the distance traveled by a vehicle.