GPS

1 of 2

noun

ˌjē-(ˌ)pē-ˈes How to pronounce GPS (audio)
: a navigational system using satellite signals to fix the location of a radio receiver on or above the earth's surface
also : the radio receiver so used

GPS

2 of 2

abbreviation

gallons per second

Examples of GPS in a Sentence

Noun The car comes with GPS.
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.
Noun
Engineered for serious athletes and outdoor adventurers, the Garmin Fenix 8 stands as the pinnacle of multisport GPS tracking. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026 Quantum sensors helped an aircraft navigate over the Pacific without GPS, improving position accuracy by 89%. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026 Location and Emergency Features TickTalk 6 includes real-time GPS tracking, allowing parents to view the watch’s current location through the TickTalk app. — Jon Stojan, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 These have included arson, high-profile hacks, GPS jamming as well as sabotage actions against key infrastructure, including undersea communication cables, logistics centers and railways. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for GPS

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Global Positioning System

First Known Use

Noun

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of GPS was in 1974

Browse Nearby Words

G protein
GPS
GPU
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“GPS.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/GPS. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

GPS

noun
ˌjē-ˌpē-ˈes
: a navigation system that uses satellite signals to find the location of a radio receiver on or above the earth's surface
also : a radio receiver used in a GPS system
Etymology

Noun

Global Positioning System

More from Merriam-Webster on GPS

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about GPS

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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