liter

noun

li·​ter ˈlē-tər How to pronounce liter (audio)
variants or litre
: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see Metric System Table

Examples of liter in a Sentence

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.
But out of all that 64 million liters worth of potential whiskey coming out of Midleton every year, the top three bottles for my money are as follows… Redbreast PX Edition Single Pot Still A spicy, earthy whiskey with an almost-syrupy mouthfeel. Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025 The density of 1 pound of muscle is about 1.06 kilograms (kg) per liter (L), compared to the density of 1 pound of fat, which is 0.9196 kg/L.1 Based on those numbers, muscle is about 13.25% denser than fat, and 1 liter of muscle would weigh 0.14 kg (or 0.3 pounds) more than one liter of fat. Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 23 May 2025 There's also a tad more room in the back with 749 liters of storage space. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 21 May 2025 Fifteen standard liters of air per minute enabled the robot to move quickly and perform all its amazing tricks, but the pump that supplied it used 85 watts. ArsTechnica, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for liter

Word History

Etymology

French litre, from Medieval Latin litra, a measure, from Greek, a weight

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of liter was in 1797

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Liter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liter. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

liter

noun
li·​ter
variants or litre
ˈlēt-ər
: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see metric system

Medical Definition

liter

noun
li·​ter
variants or chiefly British litre
: a metric unit of capacity equal to the volume of one kilogram of water at 4°C (39°F) and at standard atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury

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