kilowatt-hour

noun

kilo·​watt-hour ˈki-lə-ˌwät-ˈau̇(-ə)r 

ˈkē-lə-

: a unit of work or energy equal to that expended by one kilowatt in one hour or to 3.6 million joules

Examples of kilowatt-hour in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The average American household uses roughly 899 kWh every four weeks, and at 19 cents per kilowatt-hour in March, that translates to a monthly bill of around $170 before delivery charges, taxes and other fees. —Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

The average residential customer using 900 kilowatt-hours would see their $115.83 monthly bill rise by 3.15%, or about $3.64 a month, to $119.47, a spokesperson for Idaho Power told the Idaho Statesman Thursday by email. —Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026

Multiply your home's cost per kilowatt-hour for electricity by 10. —Camila Domonoske, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026

Every kilowatt-hour generated by a Turkish wind turbine or a Moroccan solar panel is one that does not depend on a tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz. —Ezgi Canpolat, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for kilowatt-hour

• candlepower
• cauliflower
• overpower
• superpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower

Kids Definition

kilowatt-hour

noun

: a unit of work or energy equal to that expended by one kilowatt in one hour and equal to 3.6 million joules

Medical Definition

kilowatt-hour

noun

: a unit of work or energy equal to that expended by one kilowatt in one hour