What does skidding mean?
Skidding describes a sudden, uncontrolled sideways movement, most often associated with a vehicle that has lost traction on a slippery or uneven surface. The sound of tires skidding is a familiar warning sign that a car is no longer responding normally to the driver. The word can also describe any movement that departs unexpectedly from its intended course, as when a conversation skids into an argument or a project skids into delays. In figurative use, skidding often suggests a loss of control rather than a deliberate change of direction. Related forms include skid, the underlying noun and verb, and skidder, a person or thing that skids. The word is widely understood in British and American English and is especially frequent in road-safety, driving, weather, and mechanical contexts.
To move suddenly sideways or out of control, especially because of a loss of traction.
"The van skidded when the driver applied the brakes on the wet road."
Often used with vehicles, tires, and roads, but also used figuratively for something that goes off course.
Moving in an uncontrolled sideways motion; characterized by skidding.
"The skidding car finally came to rest against the barrier."
This participial use commonly describes a vehicle, tire, or object in the act of sliding.
A skid is the moment control disappears: the tires may still be turning, but the vehicle has stopped obeying the driver.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skidding come from?
The word comes from the noun skid, which developed in the late seventeenth century from Old Norse skíð, a word related to skiing and to a wooden runner or support that allows something to slide. The verb meaning to move with a sliding or sideways motion developed from that noun. The modern sense of losing control, especially in a vehicle, became especially prominent during the development of motoring and aviation.
Related word forms
How skidding is actually used
The word is common in descriptions of vehicles, tires, roads, and weather, but it can also be used figuratively for a conversation, project, or course of action that loses direction. In British and American English, skidded generally has the same meaning, though skids may refer especially to the action of a vehicle braking or sliding.
Easily confused with skidding
Skidding usually suggests a sudden loss of traction that sends a vehicle or person sideways, whereas slipping can mean failing to maintain balance or grip without necessarily involving a dramatic sideways movement.
Sliding is a broader term for moving smoothly over a surface, while skidding specifically emphasizes an uncontrolled movement caused by a loss of traction.