WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pro•pul•sion /prəˈpʌlʃən/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the act of propelling; the state of being propelled:jet propulsion.
pro•pul•sion
(prə pul′shən),USA pronunciation n.
pro•pul•sive
(prə pul′siv),USA pronunciation pro•pul′so•ry, adj.
- the act or process of propelling.
- the state of being propelled.
- a means of propelling; propelling force, impulse, etc.
- Latin prōpuls(us) (past participle of prōpellere to propel) + -ion
- 1605–15
'propulsive' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
ballistic missile
- jet propulsion
- propulsion
- thrust
- turbofan
- turbojet engine
- hot
- jazz
- protrusive