hundredweight

noun

hun·​dred·​weight ˈhən-drəd-ˌwāt How to pronounce hundredweight (audio)
-dərd-ˌwāt
plural hundredweight or hundredweights
1
: a unit of weight equal to 100 pounds

called also short hundredweight

see Weights and Measures Table
2
British : a unit of weight equal to 112 pounds

called also long hundredweight

Examples of hundredweight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Revenue per shipment declined 1 percent, driven by lower revenue per hundredweight and lower fuel surcharges. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025 Recent prices show cattle selling for more than $230 per hundredweight, or hundred pounds. Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hundredweight was in 1577

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Cite this Entry

“Hundredweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hundredweight. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

hundredweight

noun
hun·​dred·​weight ˈhən-drə-ˌdwāt How to pronounce hundredweight (audio)
-dər-ˌdwāt
plural hundredweight or hundredweights
1
: a unit of weight equal to 100 pounds (about 45.4 kilograms)

called also short hundredweight

see measure
2
British : a unit of weight equal to 112 pounds (about 50.8 kilograms)

called also long hundredweight

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