Phrase guide

inertial navigation system

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A self-contained navigation device that determines an object's position, orientation, and velocity without relying on external references.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inertial navigation unit, inertial reference unit, inertial reference system, INS, INU, IRU, IRS

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a system to control a plane or spacecraft; uses inertial forces

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inertial guidance system

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: system

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: инерцио́нна навигацио́нна систе́ма (inerciónna navigaciónna sistéma) — Translations