kilogram

noun

ki·​lo·​gram ˈki-lə-ˌgram How to pronounce kilogram (audio) ˈkē-lə- How to pronounce kilogram (audio)
1
: the base unit of mass in the International System of Units that is defined by setting the fixed numerical value of Planck's constant to 6.62607015 x 10–34 joule seconds see Metric System Table
2
: a unit of force or weight equal to the weight of a kilogram mass under a gravitational attraction equal to that of the earth

Did you know?

The original concept of the kilogram, as the mass of a cubic decimeter of water (a bit more than a quart), was adopted as the base unit of mass by the new revolutionary government of France in 1793. In 1875, in the Treaty of the Meter, 17 countries, including the U.S., adopted the French kilogram as an international standard. In 1889 a new international standard for the kilogram, a metal bar made of platinum iridium, was agreed to; President Benjamin Harrison officially received the 1-kilogram cylinder for the U.S. in 1890. But no one uses that bar very often; for all practical purposes, a kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.

Examples of kilogram in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Perhaps most notoriously, six of the top seven finishers in the men’s 94 kilogram (roughly 207 pounds) weight lifting competition at the London Olympics — including all three original medalists — were later disqualified for doping. Jeré Longman, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 The metric is calculated based on a person's weight in kilograms and height in square meters. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2024 However, the lithium-ion cell remains the best in terms of cradle-to-gate impact on climate change, accounting for 30.9 kilograms of emitted carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour generated, followed by the SiCPAN cell. IEEE Spectrum, 29 Feb. 2024 Earlier this month, Dutch prosecutors successfully argued that Promes was central to a drug trafficking operation involved in smuggling some 1,360 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil to the Netherlands through the port of Antwerp in Belgium in 2020, in two separate incidents. Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024 Workers wearing masks against the dust unload sacks weighing as much as 65 kilograms (143 pounds) and tear them open, prepping the contents for drying, sorting and cleaning. Mumbi Gitau, Fortune Europe, 27 Feb. 2024 The China Southern flight also transported 13,000 kilograms of Queensland exports, including mangoes. Marisa Garcia, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 According to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee’s 2022 report, that spring climbers generated more than 16,000 kilograms (35,000 pounds) of poop on Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse and Mount Nuptse, three peaks in the Khumbu region. Colleen Grablick, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024 The entire package weighs only 45 kilograms, or about 100 pounds. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kilogram.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French kilogramme, from kilo- + gramme gram

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kilogram was in 1797

Dictionary Entries Near kilogram

Cite this Entry

“Kilogram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kilogram. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

kilogram

noun
ki·​lo·​gram ˈkē-lə-ˌgram How to pronounce kilogram (audio) ˈkil-ə- How to pronounce kilogram (audio)
1
: the basic unit of mass in the metric system that has been accepted by international agreement and is nearly equal to the mass of 1000 cubic centimeters of water at its highest density see metric system
2
: the weight of a kilogram mass on the earth
he weighs 80 kilograms
see metric system

Medical Definition

kilogram

noun
ki·​lo·​gram
variants or chiefly British kilogramme
1
: the base unit of mass in the International System of Units that is equal to the mass of a prototype agreed upon by international convention and that is nearly equal to the mass of 1000 cubic centimeters of water at the temperature of its maximum density
2
: a unit of force equal to the weight of a kilogram mass under a gravitational attraction equal to that of the earth

More from Merriam-Webster on kilogram

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!