What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
tourbillon
Example
The tourbillon is a highly sought-after feature in luxury watches. [tourbillon: noun]
Example
The leaves swirled around in a tourbillon of wind. [tourbillon: noun]
Example
The ballerina executed a perfect tourbillon on stage. [tourbillon: noun]
vortex
Example
The boat was caught in a vortex and pulled under the water. [vortex: noun]
Example
The political campaign created a vortex of media attention. [vortex: noun]
Example
The fluid dynamics experiment showed the formation of a vortex. [vortex: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Vortex is more commonly used than tourbillon in everyday language, as it has a wider range of applications and is more familiar to most people. Tourbillon is a specialized term used mainly in the context of luxury watches.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between tourbillon and vortex?
Tourbillon is a technical term used mainly in the context of horology, which makes it more formal and specialized. Vortex is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels, depending on the context.