basis weight

noun

1

: the weight in pounds of a 500-sheet ream of paper cut to a basic size

called also basic weight, substance, substance number

2

: the weight of a sheet of paper expressed in terms of the weight of a ream of that paper

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!