windchill

noun

wind·​chill ˈwin(d)-ˌchil How to pronounce windchill (audio)
: a still-air temperature that would have the same cooling effect on exposed human skin as a given combination of temperature and wind speed

called also chill factor, windchill factor, windchill index

Examples of windchill in a Sentence

It's cold outside, and it feels even colder because of the windchill. Expect windchills in the 20s tonight.
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.
Temperatures will drop between minus 10 and minus 20 degrees by Thursday, the NWS said, with an extreme cold watch in effect and a potential windchill of minus 30 degrees. Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Feb. 2025 Current conditions at O’Hare International Airport are overcast at 24 degrees with a windchill of negative 4. Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025 Obama’s first inauguration was outdoors, with a temperature of 28 degrees but windchills were in the teens. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025 While relatively mild temperatures are in the forecast during the day on Wednesday, windchills in the negative single digits are expected Wednesday night through Thursday morning across the region. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for windchill 

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of windchill was in 1939

Dictionary Entries Near windchill

Cite this Entry

“Windchill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windchill. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

windchill

noun
wind·​chill -ˌchil How to pronounce windchill (audio)
: a still-air temperature that would have the same cooling effect on exposed human flesh as a given combination of temperature and wind speed

called also windchill factor, windchill index

Medical Definition

windchill

noun
wind·​chill ˈwin(d)-ˌchil How to pronounce windchill (audio)
: a still-air temperature that would have the same cooling effect on exposed human skin as a given combination of temperature and wind speed

called also chill factor, windchill factor, windchill index

More from Merriam-Webster on windchill

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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