ounce

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈau̇n(t)s How to pronounce ounce (audio)
Synonyms of ouncenext
1
a
: a unit of weight equal to ¹/₁₂ troy pound see Weights and Measures Table
b
: a unit of weight equal to ¹/₁₆ avoirdupois pound
c
: a small amount
an ounce of sense
2
: fluid ounce

ounce

2 of 2

noun (2)

: snow leopard

Synonyms

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
French presses come in a variety of sizes, from one or two servings all the way up to 64 ounces. —Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025 Weighing in at 4 pounds and 8 ounces, Costco’s strawberry streusel cheesecake is a whopper—with a price tag to match. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025 At 30 ounces, this is a smaller version of the viral 40-ounce tumbler and is the perfect pick for a high school student who needs something more lightweight or for yourself for running errands. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025 Gold prices soared to record levels above $3,100 per ounce in a rally marking one of the most significant upswings in the precious metal's history, with psychological levels swept aside by a cocktail of factors - including worry about fallout from impending U.S. tariffs. —Anjana Anil and Anushree Mukherjee, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 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

Phrases Containing ounce

Rhymes for ounce

See All Rhymes for ounce

Browse Nearby Words

Oulu
ounce
ounce metal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ounce. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

ounce

noun
ˈau̇n(t)s
1
a
: a unit of weight equal to ¹⁄₁₂ troy pound (about 31 grams) see measure
b
: a unit of weight equal to ¹⁄₁₆ avoirdupois pound (about 28 grams)
c
: a small amount
an ounce of common sense
2
: 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 How to pronounce ounce (audio)
1
a
: a unit of troy weight equal to ¹/₁₂ troy pound or 31.103 grams
b
: a unit of avoirdupois weight equal to ¹/₁₆ avoirdupois pound or 28.350 grams
2
: fluid ounce

More from Merriam-Webster on ounce

Nglish: Translation of ounce for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ounce

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All