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There are two common units for measuring light, the candela and the lumen. Both are recognized as standard international units, which also include the second (for time), the kilogram (for weight), and the meter (for length). The candela is a measure of intensity; an ordinary candle gives off light with the intensity of about one candela. The lumen is a measure of "luminous flux;" a standard 100-watt lightbulb gives off 1500–1700 lumens. Luminous flux indicates how much light is actually perceived by the human eye. Technologies vary in how efficiently they turn electricity into light; halogen lights produce about 12 lumens per watt, ordinary incandescent lightbulbs produce about 15 lumens per watt, and compact fluorescent bulbs produce about 50 lumens per watt.
Examples of lumen in a Sentence
Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 2 Nov. 2024
The device functions as a bedside lamp with 10 levels of brightness ranging from 2 to 4,000 lumens.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2024
The lamp features 300 lumens with a maximum beam distance of 32 feet.
—Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2024
That’s up from 1,800 ISO lumens for the original Xgimi Aura, which should improve the Aura 2’s performance when used in rooms where ambient light can’t be completely eliminated.
—Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 6 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Lumen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lumen. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
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lumen
noun
or lumens
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