wattage

noun

watt·​age ˈwä-tij 

1

: amount of power expressed in watts

2

: dynamic or mental energy or appeal

the celebrity's high wattage

Examples of wattage in a Sentence

Use a bulb with low wattage.

Recent Examples on the Web

Use a light bulb with a lower wattage to reduce heat exposure. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2026

Perhaps most important, with the liberal grassroots awaiting a Presidential primary to come, lower-wattage figures (Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer) are now in charge. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026

So, in some cases, high wattage can be an indicator of an inefficient appliance, not a more powerful one. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

That's why simply dividing 3,072Wh by an appliance's wattage will usually yield an overly optimistic battery life estimate. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for wattage

• cottage
• pottage

Kids Definition

wattage

noun

watt·​age ˈwät-ij 

: amount of power expressed in watts

Medical Definition

wattage

noun

watt·​age ˈwät-ij 

: amount of power expressed in watts