Engineering English
Vector
Engineering Fundamentals · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A vector is a quantity having both magnitude and direction, commonly used to represent forces, velocities, and displacements. In engineering, vectors are essential for analyzing systems in multiple dimensions.
Example in context
“The resultant vector of the two force vectors must be zero for the structure to be in equilibrium.”
“Yapının dengede olması için iki kuvvet vektörünün bileşke vektörü sıfır olmalıdır.”
Where engineers use it
Vectors are used everywhere in engineering: in statics for force analysis, in dynamics for velocity and acceleration, in electromagnetics for fields, and in computer graphics for geometry transformations.
Antonyms: scalar
Practice: can you use “Vector” at work?
A student is analyzing a truss structure. They must decompose each member force into vector components and sum them at a joint to check equilibrium.
Show a model answer
“Resolve the force vector into its x and y components.”
“Vector” in 21 languages
| English | Vector |
|---|---|
| Turkish | vektör |
| French | vecteur |
| German | Vektor |
| Spanish | vector |
| Chinese | 向量 |
| Arabic | متجه |
| Portuguese | vetor |
| Russian | вектор |
| Japanese | ベクトル |
| Italian | vettore |
| Vietnamese | vectơ |
| Hindi | सदिश |
| Thai | เวกเตอร์ |
| Indonesian | vektor |
| Korean | 벡터 |
| Bengali | ভেক্টর |
| Dutch | vector |
| Swedish | vektor |
| Finnish | vektori |
| Ukrainian | вектор |
Frequently asked questions
What does Vector mean in engineering?
A vector is a quantity having both magnitude and direction, commonly used to represent forces, velocities, and displacements. In engineering, vectors are essential for analyzing systems in multiple dimensions. In Engineering Fundamentals, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Vector?
Vector is pronounced /ˈvɛktər/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Vector used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The resultant vector of the two force vectors must be zero for the structure to be in equilibrium.”
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