the Richter scale

noun

technical
: a system of measurement used for showing the strength of an earthquake
The earthquake measured 4.5 on the Richter scale.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web And the 49ers’ remaining roster additions before next month’s draft figure to be similar moves that won’t register on the Richter scale. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Mar. 2023 The magnitude is now calculated at 6.4, but the Richter scale had yet to be created. Patt Morrisoncolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2023 While Turkey has been struck with 7.0-magnitude quakes this century, this is thought to be the worst since 1939 — the Richter scale is logarithmic, and a 7.8-magnitude quake is almost 16 times as strong as one that measures 7.0. David Faris, The Week, 9 Feb. 2023 The quake, whose epicenter was the Turkish city of Gaziantep, measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. David Faris, The Week, 9 Feb. 2023

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'the Richter scale.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Dictionary Entries Near the Richter scale

Cite this Entry

“The Richter scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20Richter%20scale. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


What Did You Just Call Me?

  • brown chihuahua sitting on the floor with squinting eyes looking at the camera
  • Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a flibbertigibbet.
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY