liter

noun

li·​ter ˈlē-tər 

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

Since the Revel Sport has no need to live up to claims of seven-day autonomy, its fresh water capacity rolls back to previous levels with a 91-L tank, down from the 132.5 liters of the 2025 Revel 44E. —New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2024

The system simply recycles water added to it at the time of construction, and could help eliminate the need for up to 125 million liters of water per data center per year. —Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

The agency currently considers an average of just 3.4 micrograms per liter of the pesticide atrazine to be an acceptable level. —Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 6 Dec. 2024

One plan that involved removing the 18,000 liters of fuel still onboard was immediately discarded due to environmental concerns, an official with the prosecutor’s office told CNN. —Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

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

ˈlēt-ər 

: 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