centimeter

noun

cen·​ti·​me·​ter ˈsen-tə-ˌmē-tər  ˈsän- 

: a unit of length equal to 1/100 meter see Metric System Table

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In the metric system, which is used in most countries of the world, each basic unit of measure of length, area, or volume can be divided into centimeters. A meter consists of 100 centimeters, a square meter consists of 10,000 square centimeters, and a cubic meter consists of 1,000,000 cubic centimeters.

Examples of centimeter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Spread 2-3 inches (5-8 centimeters) of mulch around plants in beds and borders, too. —ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026

Divers said visibility in the water was extremely limited, at times only about 40 centimeters or roughly 16 inches. —Jasmine Baehr , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026

Channel Sounding One upgrade that's already hitting the market, Channel Sounding, lets Bluetooth devices like trackers and connected locks find each other more easily and accurately, down to tens of centimeters. —Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026

Their apparatus demonstrated quantum key distribution across a distance of 30 centimeters. —Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing centimeter

• centimeter-gram-second

Rhymes for centimeter

• amphitheater
• centimetre
• decimeter
• ergometer
• expositor
• gasometer
• gravimeter
• hexameter
• manometer
• milliliter
• millimeter
• millimetre

Kids Definition

centimeter

noun

cen·​ti·​me·​ter ˈsent-ə-ˌmēt-ər  ˈsänt- 

: a unit of length equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀ meter see metric system

Medical Definition

centimeter

noun

cen·​ti·​me·​ter

variants or chiefly British centimetre

ˈsent-ə-ˌmēt-ər  ˈsänt- 

: a unit of length equal to ¹/₁₀₀ meter