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 of ounce

Noun (1)

• shred
• glimmer
• speck
• sprinkling
• splash
• hint
• bit
• little
• touch

Examples of ounce in a Sentence

Noun (1)

an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Businesses cannot sell more than one 16-ounce alcoholic beverage for public consumption per customer in a single transaction. —Matt Schooley, CBS News, 19 June 2026

This highly portable 2-inch mattress weighs only 14 ounces and packs down to the size of a water bottle. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

The grocery chain, which has more than 350 stores throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey, has a buy one, get one free offer on Nature’s Promise 10-ounce 100% Grass Fed Sirloin Strip or Ribeye Steak (excludes organic). —Mike Snider, USA Today, 19 June 2026

Mix one drop of castile soap with 16 ounces of warm water in a spray bottle. —Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026

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