Kilowatt: meaning, definitions and examples

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kilowatt

 

[ ˈkɪloʊˌwɑt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

measurement of power

A kilowatt is a unit of power equal to 1,000 watts. It is commonly used to measure the output of engines and the power consumption of electrical devices. The term is often found in energy consumption reports and electrical specifications.

Synonyms

kW, thousand watts

Examples of usage

  • The air conditioner consumes 2 kilowatts of power.
  • The generator produces 5 kilowatts of electricity.
  • They installed a solar panel system with a 10-kilowatt capacity.

Translations

Translations of the word "kilowatt" in other languages:

🇵🇹 quilowatt

🇮🇳 किलowatt

🇩🇪 Kilowatt

🇮🇩 kilowatt

🇺🇦 кіловат

🇵🇱 kilowat

🇯🇵 キロワット

🇫🇷 kilowatt

🇪🇸 kilovatio

🇹🇷 kilowatt

🇰🇷 킬로와트

🇸🇦 كيلووات

🇨🇿 kilowatt

🇸🇰 kilowatt

🇨🇳 千瓦

🇸🇮 kilovat

🇮🇸 kílóvatt

🇰🇿 киловатт

🇬🇪 კილოვატი

🇦🇿 kilovatt

🇲🇽 kilovatio

Word origin

The term 'kilowatt' originates from the metric system, where 'kilo-' is a prefix meaning one thousand. It first appeared in scientific literature in the late 19th century as engineers began to develop and apply electrical technologies that required standardization of measurements. The concept of measuring electrical power was essential for the development of electrical engineering and the growing field of electricity distribution. By the 20th century, kilowatts became a standard unit in both residential and industrial applications, playing a crucial role in energy consumption and efficiency discussions. Hence, it is frequently encountered in conversations about electricity usage, devices, and energy production.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,247, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.