Impetus meaning: Impetus definition

Impetus definition: a moving force; impulse; stimulus.. See examples of IMPETUS used in a sentence. The word “ impetus ” originates from the Latin word impetus, meaning “an attack” or “a driving forward.” It is derived from the verb impetere, meaning “to attack or rush at.” Over time, the term expanded to describe any force or momentum that drives change or action, not just physical attacks. Learn the meaning of Impetus with clear definitions and helpful usage examples. Impetus is something that encourages a process or activity to develop more quickly. It can also mean the force or energy with which something moves. Learn more about its usage, pronunciation and origin with Oxford dictionaries.