watt

noun

ˈwät 

: the absolute meter-kilogram-second unit of power equal to the work done at the rate of one joule per second or to the power produced by a current of one ampere across a potential difference of one volt : ¹/₇₄₆ horsepower

Examples of watt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Federal Aviation Administration limits electric wheelchair and scooter battery size to 300 watt hours. —Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 20 Sep. 2025

The 320-watt mid-drive motor is unique to Specialized models, as is its control system, its handlebar display, its charge ports, and its software. —Kevin Purdy, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2025

The laptop's thermal design has large fans and heat pipes to keep things cool over extended gaming sessions, so the system can run at up to 260 watts of total power. —Mark Coppock, PC Magazine, 20 Sep. 2025

Our metabolic rate as an animal is one hundred watts. —Paul Kingsnorth, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

James Watt †1819

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing watt

• watt-hour

Rhymes for watt

• aught
• baht
• blot
• bott
• bought
• brought
• caught
• clot
• cot
• cott
• dot
• fought

Kids Definition

watt

noun

ˈwät 

: a unit of power equal to the work done at the rate of one joule per second

Etymology

named for James Watt 1736–1819 Scottish engineer

Medical Definition

watt

noun

ˈwät 

: the absolute mks unit of power equal to the work done at the rate of one joule per second or to the power produced by a current of one ampere across a potential difference of one volt : ¹/₇₄₆ horsepower

Biographical Definition

Watt

biographical name

ˈwät 

James 1736–1819 Scottish inventor