Wind measurements have been made for many years for numerous applications, with instruments that represent the simple and the complex, but only in this century has any real progress been made in understanding the dynamic characteristics of vanes for direction and cups for speed. In recent years the continuing interest in turbulence, diffusion, and air pollution has resulted in more instruments and better performance specifications with documented test data. The variety of devices available makes it essential that an investigator match the instrument characteristics to the application, and, as can be seen from an up-to-date survey of sensor specifications, there is a need for standardizing the terminology of performance tests for wind sensors. Abstract Wind measurements have been made for many years for numerous applications, with instruments that represent the simple and the complex, but only in this century has any real progress been made in understanding the dynamic characteristics of vanes for direction and cups for speed. In recent years the continuing interest in turbulence, diffusion, and air pollution has resulted in more instruments and better performance specifications with documented test data. The variety of devices available makes it essential that an investigator match the instrument characteristics to the application, and, as can be seen from an up-to-date survey of sensor specifications, there is a need for standardizing the terminology of performance tests for wind sensors.