gallon

noun

gal·​lon ˈga-lən 

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to 231 cubic inches or four quarts see Weights and Measures Table

Examples of gallon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With fuel costs remaining steady and less expensive than earlier in the year, the number of states averaging less than $3 per gallon has fluctuated. —Washinton Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 7 Oct. 2025

Keter Solana Storage Bench At first glance, this may look like a wooden bench, but underneath the seat is 71 gallons of space for furniture cushions, pool floats, tools, and more. —Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025

As a result of the fire, gas prices in the Bay Area are expected to increase by 10 to 25 cents per gallon, De Haan said. —Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025

Dumos Foldable Storage Ottoman Bench There’s nothing better than furniture with multiple purposes, and this sleek ottoman not only offers a place to rest your feet but also features a spacious 24-gallon storage capacity for blankets, throw pillows, toys, books, board games, and more. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English galun, galoun, galon, a liquid measure, borrowed from Anglo-French galun, galon, jalon, from Old French jal-, base of jaloie "container for liquids, bucket" (going back to Vulgar Latin *gallēta, of uncertain origin) + -on, diminutive or particularizing suffix, going back to Latin -ō, -ōn-, suffix of persons with a prominent feature

Note: Presumed *gallēta (attested as Medieval Latin galeta "wine vessel, liquid measure" in 11th-century texts) has been linked to several classical Greek words for containers, as kálathos "kind of basket, wine cooler," kēlástra "milk pail" (so glossed by Hesychius), though none of these fit formally; on the other hand, kēlḗtēs, kalḗtēs "sufferer from a hernia" (from kḗlē, kálē "tumor, hernia"; see -cele) fits formally but requires a contextual and semantic leap ("one swollen or ruptured" > "container"?).

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gallon

• ten-gallon hat

Rhymes for gallon

• alan
• ballon
• talon
• concanavalin
• enkephalin
• trifluralin

Kids Definition

gallon

noun

gal·​lon ˈgal-ən 

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to 231 cubic inches or four quarts see measure

Medical Definition

gallon

noun

gal·​lon ˈgal-ən 

1

: a United States unit of liquid capacity equal to four quarts or 231 cubic inches or 3.785 liters

2

: a British unit of liquid and dry capacity equal to four quarts or 277.42 cubic inches or 4.544 liters

called also imperial gallon