gallon

noun

gal·​lon ˈga-lən 

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to 231 cubic inches or four quarts see Weights and Measures Table

Examples of gallon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The national average is up 18.7 cents from a month ago and 1.6 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. —Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024

The restaurant goes through 10 gallons of the mild beef-and-bean chili every day. —Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024

The city’s average water use per day is 600,000 gallons in the winter; summer peak days can exceed 3 million gallons per day. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2024

Here’s what to know: Gas prices in South Florida ▪ Miami-Dade: The average price: $3.56 a gallon, according to GasBuddy’s survey of nearly 1,700 stations in the region, an increase 3.7 cents a gallon from last week. —Miami Herald Archives Update, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024

The average price at the pump for U.S. drivers has risen nearly 6.5% in the past month, from $3.39 to $3.61 per gallon. —The Indianapolis Star, 12 Apr. 2024

For a gallon of regular gas, East Valley residents pay an average of $4.44. —Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

The investigation revealed about 16 gallons of water had leaked into the fuel oil supply tank. —USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

That figure was the highest in the country, topping runnerup Hawaii by 69 cents a gallon. —David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English galun, galoun, galon, a liquid measure, borrowed from Anglo-French galun, galon, jalon, from Old French jal-, base of jaloie "container for liquids, bucket" (going back to Vulgar Latin *gallēta, of uncertain origin) + -on, diminutive or particularizing suffix, going back to Latin -ō, -ōn-, suffix of persons with a prominent feature

Note: Presumed *gallēta (attested as Medieval Latin galeta "wine vessel, liquid measure" in 11th-century texts) has been linked to several classical Greek words for containers, as kálathos "kind of basket, wine cooler," kēlástra "milk pail" (so glossed by Hesychius), though none of these fit formally; on the other hand, kēlḗtēs, kalḗtēs "sufferer from a hernia" (from kḗlē, kálē "tumor, hernia"; see -cele) fits formally but requires a contextual and semantic leap ("one swollen or ruptured" > "container"?).

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gallon

• ten-gallon hat

Kids Definition

gallon

noun

gal·​lon ˈgal-ən 

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to 231 cubic inches or four quarts see measure

Medical Definition

gallon

noun

gal·​lon ˈgal-ən 

1

: a United States unit of liquid capacity equal to four quarts or 231 cubic inches or 3.785 liters

2

: a British unit of liquid and dry capacity equal to four quarts or 277.42 cubic inches or 4.544 liters

called also imperial gallon