centigrade

adjective

cen·​ti·​grade ˈsen-tə-ˌgrād  ˈsän- 

: relating to, conforming to, or having a thermometric scale on which the interval between the freezing point of water and the boiling point of water is divided into 100 degrees with 0° representing the freezing point and 100° the boiling point

10° centigrade

—abbreviation C compare celsius

Did you know?

The centigrade scale is essentially identical to the Celsius scale, the standard scale by which temperature is measured in most of the world. Anders Celsius of Sweden first devised the centigrade scale in the early 18th century. But in his version, 100° marked the freezing point of water, and 0° its boiling point. Later users found it less confusing to reverse these two. To convert Fahrenheit degrees to centigrade, subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9. To convert centigrade to Fahrenheit, multiply by 9/5 and add 32.

Examples of centigrade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the height of the fire, temperatures inside Bradford’s main stand peaked at around 900 degrees centigrade — the equivalent of a blast furnace. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025

Individually, the odds of a global economic meltdown, a new pandemic, warming exceeding 4 degrees centigrade, or a third world war remain relatively low. —Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

This makes Earth freezing cold even during the summer, with farmland in Kansas cooling by about 20 degrees centigrade (about 40 degrees Fahrenheit), and other regions cooling almost twice as much. —Max Tegmark, Time, 29 June 2023

An Italian mercury thermometer with a centigrade scale dates to the 18th century. —Douglas Fox, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2016

The ovens are in centigrade and the measuring cups are in the metric system. —Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Dec. 2022

The deal calls for nations to keep global warming well below 2 degrees centigrade by the end of the century compared with the preindustrial era and strive to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. —Matthew Dalton, WSJ, 25 Oct. 2021

Originally known as Cocona, it was rebranded in 2013 as 37.5 (for the ideal centigrade temperature of the human body), and the material helps with odor absorption and UV protection. —New York Times, 22 Apr. 2021

This affordable pair by Canadian brand Kamik, which have been operating for over a century, is effortless to slip in and out of and has a comfort rating of -32 degrees centigrade. —Fiona Tapp, CNN Underscored, 26 Feb. 2021

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin centi- hundred + French grade

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for centigrade

• accolade
• ambuscade
• antegrade
• balustrade
• barricade
• cannonade
• cavalcade
• chambermaid
• colonnade
• countertrade
• disobeyed
• escapade

Kids Definition

centigrade

adjective

cen·​ti·​grade ˈsent-ə-ˌgrād  ˈsänt- 

: relating to or having a thermometer scale on which the interval between the freezing point and the boiling point of water is divided into 100 degrees with 0° representing the freezing point and 100° the boiling point

—abbreviation C compare celsius

Medical Definition

centigrade

adjective

cen·​ti·​grade ˈsent-ə-ˌgrād  ˈsänt- 

: relating to, conforming to, or having a thermometer scale on which the interval between the freezing and boiling points of water is divided into 100 degrees with 0° representing the freezing point and 100° the boiling point

10° centigrade

—abbreviation C compare celsius