ounce

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈau̇n(t)s 

1

a

: a unit of weight equal to ¹/₁₂ troy pound see Weights and Measures Table

b

: a unit of weight equal to ¹/₁₆ avoirdupois pound

c

: a small amount

an ounce of sense

2

: fluid ounce

ounce

2 of 2

noun (2)

: snow leopard

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• ace
• bit
• crumb
• dab
• dram
• driblet
• glimmer
• hint
• lick
• little
• mite
• nip
• particle
• peanuts
• ray
• scintilla
• scruple
• shade
• shadow
• shred
• skosh
• smack
• smell
• smidgen
• smidgeon
• smidgin
• smidge
• snap
• soupçon
• spark
• spatter
• speck
• splash
• spot
• sprinkling
• strain
• streak
• suspicion
• tad
• touch
• trace

Examples of ounce in a Sentence

Noun (1)

an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After a year of good growth apply the same fertilizer in February, May and late August at the rate of 5 ounces per plant. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2025

The Flip is noticeably heavier at 1.4 pounds, versus 15.9 ounces for the Now+. —PC Magazine, 20 June 2025

One ounce of whole pumpkin seeds contains around five grams of fiber, according to the USDA. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 9 June 2025

Her cheeks were sunken, her eyes hollow, and her body looked stripped of every ounce of fat and excess water. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French unce, from Latin uncia 12th part, ounce, from unus one — more at one

Noun (2)

Middle English unce lynx, from Middle French, alteration (by misdivision, as if l'once the ounce) of lonce, probably from Old Italian lonza, from Middle Greek lynk-, lynx, from Greek

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1774, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ounce

• an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
• fluid ounce

Rhymes for ounce

• bounce
• flounce
• pounce
• announce
• denounce
• pronounce
• renounce

Kids Definition

ounce

noun

ˈau̇n(t)s

1

a

: a unit of weight equal to ¹⁄₁₂ troy pound (about 31 grams) see measure

b

: a unit of weight equal to ¹⁄₁₆ avoirdupois pound (about 28 grams)

c

: a small amount

an ounce of common sense

2

: fluid ounce

Etymology

Noun

Middle English unce, ounce "ounce," from early French unce (same meaning), from Latin uncia "a twelfth part, ounce," from unus "one" — related to inch, unite

Word Origin

The Latin word uncia was used to mean "a twelfth part of something." In reference to length, it meant one-twelfth of a pes "foot." In reference to weight, it meant one-twelfth of a libra "pound." Uncia, as a unit of length, came into Old English as ince or ynce, which became our inch. Uncia, as a unit of weight, came into Middle English from the early French word unce and became our ounce. In the present system of weights used in this country, the pound is divided into sixteen parts instead of twelve. The result is that the ounce, which originally meant one-twelfth, is now equal to one-sixteenth of a pound.

Medical Definition

ounce

noun

ˈau̇n(t)s 

1

a

: a unit of troy weight equal to ¹/₁₂ troy pound or 31.103 grams

b

: a unit of avoirdupois weight equal to ¹/₁₆ avoirdupois pound or 28.350 grams

2

: fluid ounce