ampere: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “ampere” mean?
A unit of electric current, equal to the flow of one coulomb of charge per second.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of electric current, equal to the flow of one coulomb of charge per second.
The base SI unit of electric current. It is defined by taking the fixed numerical value of the elementary charge e to be 1.602176634×10⁻¹⁹ when expressed in the unit coulomb, which is equal to A·s.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Both UK and US English use the term identically in scientific contexts.
Connotations
Purely technical, precise, quantitative.
Frequency
Used with equal, low frequency in both varieties, limited to technical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “ampere” in a Sentence
The [DEVICE] draws [NUMBER] amperes.The current is [NUMBER] ampere(s).A [NUMBER]-ampere fuse.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ampere” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The 13-ampere fuse is standard for UK plugs.
- It's an ampere-hour rating.
American English
- It requires a 20-ampere circuit breaker.
- Check the ampere rating on the tool.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in technical sales or specifications for electrical products.
Academic
Common in physics, engineering, and electronics textbooks and papers.
Everyday
Very rare; might be encountered when discussing fuses, battery chargers, or household wiring with an electrician.
Technical
Core, standard unit of measurement in all electrical engineering, electronics, and physics contexts.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ampere”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ampere”
- Pronouncing it as 'am-per-ee' (incorrect) instead of 'am-pair' (US) / 'am-pair' (UK).
- Confusing amperes (current) with volts (potential difference) or watts (power).
- Using 'amperage' when 'current' is sufficient in simple contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no difference. 'Amp' is simply the common short form for 'ampere'.
No, it is a highly technical term. Most people encounter 'amps' only when discussing fuses, circuit breakers, or battery chargers.
The ampere is named after André-Marie Ampère, a French physicist and mathematician who founded the science of electromagnetism.
In terms of magnitude, current is always positive. However, the sign (positive or negative) indicates the conventional direction of the current flow relative to a defined reference direction.
A unit of electric current, equal to the flow of one coulomb of charge per second.
Ampere is usually technical / scientific in register.
Ampere: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæmpɛː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæmpɪr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not the voltage that kills you, it's the amperes.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Ampere starts with 'A' for 'Amps', just like the 'A' on a multimeter's current setting.
Conceptual Metaphor
CURRENT IS FLOW (e.g., 'A current of 5 amperes flows through the wire').
Practice
Quiz
What does an ampere measure?