Coordinated Universal Time

noun

: the international standard of time that is kept by atomic clocks around the world
abbreviation UTC
compare greenwich mean time, universal time

Examples of Coordinated Universal Time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The latest predictions now have a G3 storm watch in place from Oct. 4 through Oct. 6, but since the prediction center uses Coordinated Universal Time, that means the G3 watch really begins Thursday evening in local time, Brasher confirmed in an email after the watches were updated. Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 3 Oct. 2024 Moon missions always account for the cycles of the lunar night and day, each of which lasts two weeks, but there is currently no standard timescale on the moon similar to the Coordinated Universal Time system that keeps clocks ticking in tandem here on Earth. Becky Ferreira, WIRED, 4 Sep. 2024 Bovet met this challenge head on with the Recital 28 Prowess 1, accounting for all 24 global time zones as well as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), American summertime (AST), European and American summertime (EAS), and European wintertime (EWT). Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 19 July 2024 Using precise atomic clocks, astronauts stay synchronized with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the global standard by which all clocks are ultimately set. Discover Magazine, 9 July 2024 On Earth, Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC, is the standard used to set all time zones around the world. George Petras, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024 Currently missions involving the moon are conducted on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the standard used globally to regulate all clocks. Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2024 On Earth, those zones are set using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which reflects a weighted average measurement of hundreds of extremely precise atomic clocks placed around the globe. Kai McNamee, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024 Most timekeeping on Earth is tied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which relies on an international array of atomic clocks designed to determine the most precise time possible. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Coordinated Universal Time was in 1969

Dictionary Entries Near Coordinated Universal Time

Cite this Entry

“Coordinated Universal Time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Coordinated%20Universal%20Time. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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