trajectory
truh-JEK-tuh-ree
/trəˈdʒɛktəri/
The path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces.
Metaphorically used to describe the course or development of a career, economy, or life.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'traicere', meaning 'to throw across.' It originally described the path of a spear or an arrow through the air.
Word relationships
- path: Trajectory is more technical and implies a path determined by specific forces.
- stasis: Stasis is a lack of movement; trajectory is a path of movement.
Commonly confused with
- circuit: A circuit is a circular path; a trajectory is usually a curved path from start to finish.
Collocations
- upward trajectory
- career trajectory
- flight trajectory
Example sentences
- "The trajectory of the missile was tracked by radar." Science
- "The company's growth trajectory has been upward for three consecutive years." Business
Memory hook
Think of a 'project' being 'thrown'—a trajectory is the path of that 'project.' The path of something thrown.
When not to use
Don't use for a simple change; it implies a continuous, predictable path.
Fun facts
- In mathematics, a trajectory is a curve that intersects a family of curves at a constant angle.
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.