ohm

1 of 2

noun

ˈōm How to pronounce ohm (audio)
: the practical meter-kilogram-second unit of electric resistance equal to the resistance of a circuit in which a potential difference of one volt produces a current of one ampere
ohmic
ˈō-mik How to pronounce ohm (audio)
adjective
ohmically
ˈō-mi-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce ohm (audio)
adverb

ohmic

2 of 2

adjective

ohm·​ic ˈōmik How to pronounce ohmic (audio)
1
: of or relating to an ohm : measured in ohms
2
: relating to a material or an electrical contact for which the electrical resistance is not dependent on the applied voltage
ohmically adverb
Free of stuff between its electrodes, a vacuum tube can operate at currents that would ohmically toast a transistor's semiconducting innards. —Charles Day, Physics Today, July 2002

Examples of ohm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
That's why speakers with lower impedance, rated in ohms, can generally be more difficult to amplify. — Ryan Waniata, Wired News, 1 Apr. 2026 In addition, the length will, in part, determine the necessary impedance, or maximum ohm load and resistance of a speaker cable. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026 The process leads to a tin-gold alloy with 270 ohm-micrometer resistance and indium-gold with 190 ohm-micrometer. — IEEE Spectrum, 14 Dec. 2021 With a nominal impedance of 4 ohms and sensitivity of 89 dB, high-power, high-current, solid-state amplifiers will bring out the very best in these speakers. — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2025 Its angled 42mm transducers mimic high-end speaker imaging, while its ultra-lightweight 150-ohm voice coil ensures distortion-free clarity across music and games. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Georg Simon ohm

Adjective

International Scientific Vocabulary ohm + -ic

First Known Use

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ohm was in 1861

Rhymes for ohm

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Browse Nearby Words

Ohlone
ohm
Ohm
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Cite this Entry

“Ohm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ohm. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ohm

noun
ˈōm How to pronounce ohm (audio)
: a unit of electric resistance equal to the resistance of a circuit in which a potential difference of one volt produces a current of one ampere
ohmic
ˈō-mik How to pronounce ohm (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

ohm

noun
ˈōm How to pronounce ohm (audio)
: the practical mks unit of electrical resistance equal to the resistance of a circuit in which a potential difference of one volt produces a current of one ampere
ohmic
ˈō-mik How to pronounce ohm (audio)
adjective

Biographical Definition

Ohm

biographical name

ˈōm How to pronounce Ohm (audio)
Georg Simon 1787–1854 German physicist

More from Merriam-Webster on ohm

Nglish: Translation of ohm for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ohm

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