trajectory
noun
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Formed with part of the prefix trans-, "across", trajectory means a "hurling across". By calculating the effect of gravity and other forces, the trajectory of an object launched into space at a known speed can be computed precisely. Missiles stand a chance of hitting their target only if their trajectory has been plotted accurately. The word is used most often in physics and engineering, but not always; we can also say, for example, that the trajectory of a whole life may be set in a person's youth, or that a new book traces the long trajectory of the French empire.
Examples of trajectory in a Sentence
Bryan Walsh, Vox, 6 Aug. 2024
Many aspiring executives mistakenly view their rise to the C-suite as a linear upward trajectory and, as a result, are too focused on reporting lines and labels.
—Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2024
Besides California, the states labeled as being on a stable or uncertain COVID trajectory were Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Maine and Pennsylvania.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2024
So this month is the perfect opportunity to try something different in order to allow the trajectory of your life to shift once and for all.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for trajectory 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trajectory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near trajectory
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“Trajectory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trajectory. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
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trajectory
noun
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