It's a Latin word that has been trying to sneak into the French language. The Banque de Dépannage Linguistique offers several possible alternatives: élan, impulsion, lancée, force, essor, allure, vitesse (de croisière), rythme, dynamisme, vigueur, énergie, conjoncture (favorable) ou conditions (favorables), and some examples here.

I can see a counter-argument: someone might say that the whole point of the word is that it can be used to mean so many slightly different things. I can see “momentum” acquiring a great many new meanings (maybe even “a whole host” of meanings).

Or it might lose its elan soon.

But in general, well done, BDL.

Labels: Words