plural hertz
: a unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second
abbreviation Hz

Examples of hertz in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For example, alpha waves, with frequencies of 8 to 12 hertz, tend to appear during deep relaxation or sleep. Elizabeth Landau, Quanta Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024 Previous intrinsically stretchable electronics were at best capable of 54 transistors and 14 logic gates per circuit, and operating speeds of only 330 hertz. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Mar. 2024 Everything’s got to be on that 60 hertz in the US, 50 hertz in other places. Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2024 The heartbeat of the grid — measured in hertz — also fell perilously low, according to the grid operator. Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, 8 Sep. 2023 The electronics were quite simple: a microphone to pick up sound in the room, a bandpass filter in the range of 2,200 to 2,800 hertz (the typical range of a handclap), a few triode switches, and a microcontroller. IEEE Spectrum, 30 Dec. 2023 After employing computer simulations to figure out the exact combination of spheres to use, the team vibrated the box of spheres at 120 hertz for 170 hours. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 26 July 2023 The new chip is effectively 40 times as loud, reaching more than 140 dB even at the lowest end of human hearing, 20 hertz. IEEE Spectrum, 14 Nov. 2023 With this method, the researchers were able to produce purring sounds at frequencies between 25 and 30 hertz—without any input from the cat’s brain, and without any muscle contractions. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hertz.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Heinrich R. Hertz

First Known Use

circa 1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hertz was circa 1928

Dictionary Entries Near hertz

Cite this Entry

“Hertz.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hertz. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

: a unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second
abbreviation Hz

Medical Definition

hertz

noun
: a unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second
abbreviation Hz

Biographical Definition

Hertz 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈherts How to pronounce Hertz (audio)
ˈhərts
Gustav Ludwig 1887–1975 German physicist

Hertz

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Heinrich Rudolf 1857–1894 German physicist

More from Merriam-Webster on hertz

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!