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

After Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton struck in 2024, Duke was approved to charge residential customers $33 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours starting in March 2025. —News Service Of Florida, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026

After Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton struck in 2024, Duke was approved to charge residential customers $33 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours starting in March 2025. —CBS News, 5 May 2026

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

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