apothecaries' weight: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowTechnical/Historical
Quick answer
What does “apothecaries' weight” mean?
A historical system of mass units used by apothecaries (pharmacists) for weighing medicines and ingredients, based on the grain, scruple, dram, ounce, and pound.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical system of mass units used by apothecaries (pharmacists) for weighing medicines and ingredients, based on the grain, scruple, dram, ounce, and pound.
A now-obsolete measurement system that was standard in pharmacy before the adoption of the metric system; sometimes referenced historically or in specialized contexts about traditional medicine, historical recipes, or metrology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both regions transitioned to metric systems for pharmacy, rendering the term equally historical in both.
Connotations
Historical precision, old-fashioned science, traditional herbalism.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, encountered only in historical texts, specialized metrology, or discussions of antique practices.
Grammar
How to Use “apothecaries' weight” in a Sentence
[The] apothecaries' weight [was] used for [purpose][Noun] was measured in apothecaries' weightVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business.
Academic
Used in historical, pharmaceutical, or metrological papers discussing pre-metric measurement systems.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used with precise definitions in historical pharmacology or metrology contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “apothecaries' weight”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “apothecaries' weight”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apothecaries' weight”
- Misspelling as 'apothecary weight' (missing possessive apostrophe).
- Using it as a current term instead of a historical reference.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is entirely obsolete. The metric system (grams, milligrams) is the universal standard in pharmacy and medicine.
The grain (based on the weight of a grain of wheat), which was also the base for the troy and avoirdupois systems.
Apothecaries' weight was used for medicines and had 12 ounces to the pound. Avoirdupois weight, used for general goods, has 16 ounces to the pound, and the ounces themselves are of different masses.
It is named for the apothecaries (historical pharmacists/chemists) who used this specific system to compound medicines with great precision.
A historical system of mass units used by apothecaries (pharmacists) for weighing medicines and ingredients, based on the grain, scruple, dram, ounce, and pound.
Apothecaries' weight is usually technical/historical in register.
Apothecaries' weight: in British English it is pronounced /əˈpɒθ.ə.kə.riz weɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈpɑː.θə.ker.iz weɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an old APOTHECARY on a WEIGHT-loss plan, carefully weighing out herbs instead of calories.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION IS HISTORICAL WEIGHT (The system metaphorically represents an era of meticulous, non-standardized measurement).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'apothecaries' weight' primarily associated with?