liter

noun

li·​ter ˈlē-tər 

variants or litre

: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see Metric System Table

Examples of liter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While previous methods produced only a few milligrams of pigment per liter, the new system yields up to three grams per liter. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025

The 650,000 barrel-a-day Dangote Refinery in Lagos is Nigeria’s largest and sole private refinery, supplying 20 million liters of petrol to the country daily. —Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025

Mix four tablespoons of the alcohol and four drops of the soap into the one-liter spray bottle. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025

Keep a 1-liter Ziploc bag tucked in your toiletry kit for those airports (looking at you, CDG) that insist all liquids be packed in one. —Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French litre, from Medieval Latin litra, a measure, from Greek, a weight

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for liter

• beater
• cheater
• dieter
• eater
• heater
• litre
• meter
• metre
• neater
• praetor
• seater
• skeeter

Kids Definition

liter

noun

li·​ter

variants or litre

ˈlēt-ər

: a metric unit of capacity equal to one cubic decimeter see metric system

Medical Definition

liter

noun

li·​ter

variants or chiefly British litre

ˈlēt-ər 

: a metric unit of capacity equal to the volume of one kilogram of water at 4°C (39°F) and at standard atmospheric pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury