watt

noun

ˈwät How to pronounce watt (audio)
: the absolute meter-kilogram-second unit of power equal to the work done at the rate of one joule per second or to the power produced by a current of one ampere across a potential difference of one volt : 1/746 horsepower

Examples of watt 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.
Lee conferred with David Jue, the owner and an old-school front-of-the house man with a million-watt smile who’s originally from Hong Kong. — Christopher Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2026 Ford says more than 10,000 watts at once, enough to run a refrigerator, lights, Wi-Fi and a TV, plus a microwave or coffee maker. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026 Bright Saver is trying to get UL Solutions, the main certifier, to exempt solar kits under 360 watts, which many experts agree produce too little power to endanger the grid or overwhelm a home’s wiring. — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Electric bicycles, in contrast, come with pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts, according to the California Highway Patrol. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for watt

Word History

Etymology

James Watt †1819

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of watt was in 1882

Phrases Containing watt

Rhymes for watt

See All Rhymes for watt

Browse Nearby Words

Watson-Watt
watt
Watt
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Cite this Entry

“Watt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watt. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

watt

noun
ˈwät How to pronounce watt (audio)
: a unit of power equal to the work done at the rate of one joule per second
Etymology

named for James Watt 1736–1819 Scottish engineer

Medical Definition

watt

noun
ˈwät How to pronounce watt (audio)
: the absolute mks unit of power equal to the work done at the rate of one joule per second or to the power produced by a current of one ampere across a potential difference of one volt : 1/746 horsepower

Biographical Definition

Watt

biographical name

ˈwät How to pronounce Watt (audio)
James 1736–1819 Scottish inventor

More from Merriam-Webster on watt

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about watt

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