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

There, Côté Mer provides langoustines (€35 each), lobsters (€30 each), sea snails (€24.90 per kilo), clams (€39.90 per kilo) and oysters (€14 to €24 per kilo). —Seth Sherwood, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025

Trump announced Monday gold imports will not face tariffs, alleviating fears among importers after Customs and Border Protection informed businesses that gold bars ranging from one to 100 kilos would be subject to tariffs. —Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Two men were arrested for being busted with over half a kilo of cocaine allegedly in a Hyannis parking lot, the Cape and Islands DA announced Thursday. —Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025

Sharon lost 21 kilos and now maintains her weight at around 61 kilos through intentional lifestyle choices. —Essence, 28 July 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"