dead reckoning

noun

Synonyms of dead reckoningnext
1
: the determination without the aid of celestial observations of the position of a ship or aircraft from the record of the courses sailed or flown, the distance made, and the known or estimated drift
2
: guesswork
dead reckon verb

Examples of dead reckoning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To gauge longitude, by contrast, requires dead reckoning. — The Conversation, 14 May 2025 There is also straightforward dead reckoning and inertial navigation. — The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dead reckoning was in 1613

Rhymes for dead reckoning

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Browse Nearby Words

dead rail
dead reckoning
dead rent
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Cite this Entry

“Dead reckoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20reckoning. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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Kids Definition

dead reckoning

noun
: calculation of the position of a ship or aircraft from the distance it has covered and the direction it has traveled without taking observations of the sun, stars, or moon

More from Merriam-Webster on dead reckoning

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dead reckoning

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dead reckoning

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