ounce

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈau̇n(t)s

Synonyms of ounce next

: a unit of weight equal to ¹/₁₂ troy pound see Weights and Measures Table

: a unit of weight equal to ¹/₁₆ avoirdupois pound

: a small amount

an ounce of sense

: fluid ounce

ounce

2 of 2

Examples of ounce in a Sentence

Noun (1) an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

My jigger holds 1 ½ ounces in the large end and ¾ ounce in the small end. —

Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024 Does this come as a surprise at a time when gold realizations have gone up 35% year-to-year to $2,568 per ounce in Q3 of 2024, and copper realizations are also up 13% to $4.30 per ounce? —

Trefis Team, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Kojic acid products are among the most expensive skin-lighteners, costing more per ounce than vitamin C and retinol products. —

Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Nov. 2024 One year ago, when the inaugural edition of The New Era of Mining was published, the price of gold was just below $2,000 per ounce—a historic high. —

Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ounce

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French unce, from Latin uncia 12th part, ounce, from unus one — more at one

Noun (2)

Middle English unce lynx, from Middle French, alteration (by misdivision, as if l'once the ounce) of lonce, probably from Old Italian lonza, from Middle Greek lynk-, lynx, from Greek

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of ounce was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ounce. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

ounce

noun

ˈau̇n(t)s

: a unit of weight equal to ¹⁄₁₂ troy pound (about 31 grams) see measure

: a unit of weight equal to ¹⁄₁₆ avoirdupois pound (about 28 grams)

: a small amount

an ounce of common sense

: fluid ounce

Etymology

Noun

Middle English unce, ounce "ounce," from early French unce (same meaning), from Latin uncia "a twelfth part, ounce," from unus "one" — related to inch, unite

Word Origin

The Latin word uncia was used to mean "a twelfth part of something." In reference to length, it meant one-twelfth of a pes "foot." In reference to weight, it meant one-twelfth of a libra "pound." Uncia, as a unit of length, came into Old English as ince or ynce, which became our inch. Uncia, as a unit of weight, came into Middle English from the early French word unce and became our ounce. In the present system of weights used in this country, the pound is divided into sixteen parts instead of twelve. The result is that the ounce, which originally meant one-twelfth, is now equal to one-sixteenth of a pound.

Medical Definition

ounce

noun

ˈau̇n(t)s

: a unit of troy weight equal to ¹/₁₂ troy pound or 31.103 grams

: a unit of avoirdupois weight equal to ¹/₁₆ avoirdupois pound or 28.350 grams

: fluid ounce

Last Updated: 16 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

paroxysm

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

ounce

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonyms

Examples of ounce in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near ounce

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition