kilo

1 of 3

noun

ki·​lo ˈkē-(ˌ)lō 

also

ˈki- 

plural kilos

: a unit of mass or weight equaling one thousand grams or approximately 2.2 pounds : kilogram

Each sack weighs 50 kilos.

Did you know … that it takes a lobster between five and seven years to grow to a weight of half a kilo, the minimum size it should reach before being fished?

—Food & Drink

When he finally strips off the kilos of gold enveloping his body, Deion is as light as a feather.

—Curry Kirkpatrick

Gathering in Versailles, west of Paris, governments are expected on Friday to approve plans to instead use a scientific formulation to define the exact mass of a kilo.

—John Leicester

Kilo

2 of 3

communications code word

—used as a code word for the letter k

kilo-

3 of 3

combining form

: thousand

kiloton

Examples of kilo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

VanMoof The step-over S6 model weighs in at 23.5 kg (52 lb) and rolls on 27.5-inch wheels wearing proprietary Gen 6 tires, while the S6 Open flavor is a kilo lighter and rides with 24-inch wheels. —New Atlas, 15 June 2025

Despite aid entering the strip, Basheer says that prices are still rising, with people paying up to $20 for a kilo of flour. —Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 June 2025

While reform has ground to a halt in the U.S., Canadian operators were caught with a glut of supply, the price per kilo of cannabis crashed and companies have been struggling to survive ever since. —Will Yakowicz, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025

By comparison, the average weight of an NFL lineman is about 140 kilos, or just over 300 pounds. —Stephen Wade, Denver Post, 28 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Combining form

French, modification of Greek chilioi

First Known Use

Noun

1870, in the meaning defined above

Communications Code Word

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for kilo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

kilo

1 of 2 noun

ki·​lo ˈkē-(ˌ)lō 

plural kilos

: kilogram

kilo-

2 of 2 combining form

: thousand

kiloton

Etymology

Combining form

derived from Greek chilioi "thousand"