ounce

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈau̇n(t)s How to pronounce ounce (audio)
Synonyms of ouncenext
1
a
: a unit of weight equal to 1/12 troy pound see Weights and Measures Table
b
: a unit of weight equal to 1/16 avoirdupois pound
c
: a small amount
an ounce of sense
2
: fluid ounce

ounce

2 of 2

noun (2)

: snow leopard

Synonyms of ounce

Relevance

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of ounce in a Sentence

Noun (1) an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
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.
Noun
While shopping in bulk is not always the answers for all shoppers, from a per ounce perspective, Costco is the cheapest place to buy Boursin cheese. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026 To date, the Betts brothers have taken data from over 200 gold mines, tracking carbon emissions per ounce of gold produced, recycling statistics, percentage of local employment rates, percentage of profits going back into the community, and more. —Jill Newman, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2026 In a recent meeting with investors, Barone pointed out that Dutch Bros’ medium drinks are 24 ounces; at Starbucks, a medium drink is 16 ounces. —Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026 Consider that one 8-ounce cup of coffee, which is typically smaller than most coffee shop beverages, contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ounce

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French unce, from Latin uncia 12th part, ounce, from unus one — more at one

Noun (2)

Middle English unce lynx, from Middle French, alteration (by misdivision, as if l'once the ounce) of lonce, probably from Old Italian lonza, from Middle Greek lynk-, lynx, from Greek

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ounce was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing ounce

Rhymes for ounce

See All Rhymes for ounce

Browse Nearby Words

Oulu
ounce
ounce metal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ounce. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

ounce

noun
ˈau̇n(t)s
1
a
: a unit of weight equal to ¹⁄₁₂ troy pound (about 31 grams) see measure
b
: a unit of weight equal to ¹⁄₁₆ avoirdupois pound (about 28 grams)
c
: a small amount
an ounce of common sense
2
: fluid ounce
Etymology

Noun

Middle English unce, ounce "ounce," from early French unce (same meaning), from Latin uncia "a twelfth part, ounce," from unus "one" — related to inch, unite

Word Origin
The Latin word uncia was used to mean "a twelfth part of something." In reference to length, it meant one-twelfth of a pes "foot." In reference to weight, it meant one-twelfth of a libra "pound." Uncia, as a unit of length, came into Old English as ince or ynce, which became our inch. Uncia, as a unit of weight, came into Middle English from the early French word unce and became our ounce. In the present system of weights used in this country, the pound is divided into sixteen parts instead of twelve. The result is that the ounce, which originally meant one-twelfth, is now equal to one-sixteenth of a pound.

Medical Definition

ounce

noun
ˈau̇n(t)s How to pronounce ounce (audio)
1
a
: a unit of troy weight equal to ¹/₁₂ troy pound or 31.103 grams
b
: a unit of avoirdupois weight equal to ¹/₁₆ avoirdupois pound or 28.350 grams
2
: fluid ounce

More from Merriam-Webster on ounce

Nglish: Translation of ounce for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ounce

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ten Kinds of Happiness

‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

The Words of the Week - Jan. 30

17 Words for Dog Breeds
See More

Popular

See More

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

Ten Kinds of Happiness

‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
girl-pencil-test
Challenging Standardized Test Words Quiz Vol. 3 You’re on your own for the math section.
See All