liter

noun

li·​ter ˈlē-tər How to pronounce liter (audio)
variants or litre
: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see Metric System Table

Examples of liter in a Sentence

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.
Each container has both liter and ounce measurement markings as well as matching, flip top lids with a silicone seal for ultimate freshness. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2025 Each canister is supposed to make two liters of water, and the math works out to about $1 per liter of sparkling water, which is more than the 50 cents or so per liter of a regular soda maker’s tank. Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 11 Feb. 2025 From these sources, the population of Gaza in normal times was able to utilize about 80 liters of water—roughly 21 gallons—per person a day, a third of the amount typically available to Israelis and about a quarter of the water available to the average American. Claudine Ebeid, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025 With 300,000 participating, the fund is estimated to add 27 million liters (7.1 million gallons) of water by the end of the year and save the government $850,000 annually. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for liter 

Word History

Etymology

French litre, from Medieval Latin litra, a measure, from Greek, a weight

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of liter was in 1797

Dictionary Entries Near liter

Cite this Entry

“Liter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liter. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

liter

noun
li·​ter
variants or litre
ˈlēt-ər
: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see metric system

Medical Definition

liter

noun
li·​ter
variants or chiefly British litre
: a metric unit of capacity equal to the volume of one kilogram of water at 4°C (39°F) and at standard atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury

More from Merriam-Webster on liter

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