gigahertz

noun

giga·​hertz ˈji-gə-ˌhərts How to pronounce gigahertz (audio)
-ˌherts, 
ˈgi- How to pronounce gigahertz (audio)
plural gigahertz
: a unit of frequency equal to one billion hertz

Examples of gigahertz 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.
The thorium-229 spectra used in the current study had a linewidth of about 20 gigahertz, considered broad compared to the razor-thin signals needed to probe dark matter. — New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025 Global demand for high-capacity, low-latency wireless connectivity continues to grow, and the 6-gigahertz band of radio spectrum has emerged as a particularly vital chunk of wireless real estate. — Stephen Cousins, IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026 The company claims cores running above five gigahertz, more than thirty percent faster than competing designs, with configurations exceeding 250 cores, all built on the Oryon architecture Qualcomm developed in-house through its acquisition of Nuvia. — Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 These distortions are especially problematic at higher frequencies like the 230 gigahertz (GHz) band — also known as the millimeter band, which the EHT currently uses — where signals are rapidly scrambled by atmospheric turbulence and water vapor. — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for gigahertz

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gigahertz was in 1964

Browse Nearby Words

gigaflop
gigahertz
gigant-
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Cite this Entry

“Gigahertz.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gigahertz. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gigahertz

noun
giga·​hertz -ˌhərts How to pronounce gigahertz (audio) -ˌhe(ə)rts How to pronounce gigahertz (audio)
: a unit of frequency equal to one billion hertz
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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