gallon

noun

gal·​lon ˈga-lən How to pronounce gallon (audio)
: a unit of liquid capacity equal to 231 cubic inches or four quarts see Weights and Measures Table

Examples of gallon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Residents are limited to 200 gallons of compost or mulch per visit and must provide proof of residency and bring their own shovel and container. Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024 For example, dairy production in sub-Saharan Africa is much more emissions intensive per gallon of milk than production in North America or Europe, and cows in the region are only 5%-7% as productive. Paul Winters, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2024 Has Line 5 ever leaked? Line 5 has leaked 35 times in its roughly 70-year tenure and released a total of more than 1.13 million gallons of oil into the environment, according to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration database. Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024 After bottoming at $3.07 a gallon in mid-January, the national average climbed to $3.40 a gallon on Friday, according to AAA. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 The ceremony usually calls for about 10 gallons of dye, but last year six gallons were used after the pump malfunction. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Mar. 2024 Yes, the state income tax rate is among the steepest for wealthier people, topping out at 13.3% for millionaires, and its gasoline tax of 57.9 cents a gallon is considered the nation’s highest. David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024 Along with Target, Albertsons offers the cheapest gallon of whole milk at $2.99 per bottle. 5. Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024 An acre-foot is roughly 326,000 gallons, generally enough to support a few households for a year, though most of the river’s water is used on farms. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gallon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English galun, galoun, galon, a liquid measure, borrowed from Anglo-French galun, galon, jalon, from Old French jal-, base of jaloie "container for liquids, bucket" (going back to Vulgar Latin *gallēta, of uncertain origin) + -on, diminutive or particularizing suffix, going back to Latin -ō, -ōn-, suffix of persons with a prominent feature

Note: Presumed *gallēta (attested as Medieval Latin galeta "wine vessel, liquid measure" in 11th-century texts) has been linked to several classical Greek words for containers, as kálathos "kind of basket, wine cooler," kēlástra "milk pail" (so glossed by Hesychius), though none of these fit formally; on the other hand, kēlḗtēs, kalḗtēs "sufferer from a hernia" (from kḗlē, kálē "tumor, hernia"; see -cele) fits formally but requires a contextual and semantic leap ("one swollen or ruptured" > "container"?).

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gallon was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near gallon

Cite this Entry

“Gallon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gallon. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gallon

noun
gal·​lon ˈgal-ən How to pronounce gallon (audio)
: a unit of liquid capacity equal to 231 cubic inches or four quarts see measure

Medical Definition

gallon

noun
gal·​lon ˈgal-ən How to pronounce gallon (audio)
1
: a United States unit of liquid capacity equal to four quarts or 231 cubic inches or 3.785 liters
2
: a British unit of liquid and dry capacity equal to four quarts or 277.42 cubic inches or 4.544 liters

called also imperial gallon

More from Merriam-Webster on gallon

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