millimeter

noun

mil·​li·​me·​ter ˈmi-lə-ˌmē-tər 

variants US millimeter or British millimetre

: a unit of length equal to ¹/₁₀₀₀ meter see Metric System Table

Examples of millimeter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Forty-four years ago this Sunday, our nation came within millimeters of losing President Ronald Reagan. —Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025

The metric scale has a resolution of 1/10th of a millimeter, with the imperial scale coming in at 1/64th of an inch. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 27 Mar. 2025

Light rainfall of 5 to 10 millimeters [0.2 to 0.4 inches] was forecast for Thursday, which officials hoped would assist in firefighting efforts. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025

The reality of leading a dozen or so enthusiasts of varying levels makes route selection and choosing the degree of challenge a game of millimeters. —Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French millimètre, from milli- + mètre meter

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for millimeter

• amphitheater
• centimeter
• centimetre
• decimeter
• ergometer
• expositor
• gasometer
• gravimeter
• hexameter
• manometer
• milliliter
• millimetre

Kids Definition

millimeter

noun

mil·​li·​me·​ter ˈmil-ə-ˌmēt-ər 

: a measure of length equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ meter see metric system table

Medical Definition

millimeter

noun

mil·​li·​me·​ter

variants or chiefly British millimetre

ˈmil-ə-ˌmēt-ər 

: one thousandth of a meter

—abbreviation mm