kilo

1 of 3

noun

ki·​lo ˈkē-(ˌ)lō 

also

ˈki- 

plural kilos

: a unit of mass or weight equaling one thousand grams or approximately 2.2 pounds : kilogram

Each sack weighs 50 kilos.

Did you know … that it takes a lobster between five and seven years to grow to a weight of half a kilo, the minimum size it should reach before being fished?

—Food & Drink

When he finally strips off the kilos of gold enveloping his body, Deion is as light as a feather.

—Curry Kirkpatrick

Gathering in Versailles, west of Paris, governments are expected on Friday to approve plans to instead use a scientific formulation to define the exact mass of a kilo.

—John Leicester

Kilo

2 of 3

communications code word

—used as a code word for the letter k

kilo-

3 of 3

combining form

: thousand

kiloton

Examples of kilo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

During the investigation, nearly 3,000 kilos of cocaine, valued at more than $90 million, was traced back to the organization. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 19 Jan. 2025

At the time, cocaine in Los Angeles or Chicago sold for $25,000 a kilo. —Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025

Agave prices have been highly volatile in the last several years, dropping from an average of 30 pesos per kilo to about 6 pesos. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

The 53-year-old served a 15-year sentence in federal prison after being caught with 10 kilos of cocaine, 10 guns, and $300,000 in cash while his son was growing up, according to a Men’s Health profile. —Angel Diaz, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Combining form

French, modification of Greek chilioi

First Known Use

Noun

1870, in the meaning defined above

Communications Code Word

1952, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

kilo

1 of 2 noun

ki·​lo ˈkē-(ˌ)lō 

plural kilos

: kilogram

kilo-

2 of 2 combining form

: thousand

kiloton

Etymology

Combining form

derived from Greek chilioi "thousand"