centiliter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “centiliter” mean?
A unit of volume in the metric system equal to one hundredth of a liter.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of volume in the metric system equal to one hundredth of a liter.
A precise measurement used in scientific, medical, culinary, and beverage contexts, often for small volumes of liquids.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The British spelling is 'centilitre' (ending '-re'), while the American spelling is 'centiliter' (ending '-er'). The unit is used similarly but may be more common in American cooking or British/European beverage labeling.
Connotations
Neutral. Connotes scientific accuracy or European measurement standards (e.g., on spirit bottles).
Frequency
Overall low frequency. Slightly higher in contexts using the metric system (e.g., science, EU product labels, mixology). In the UK, 'millilitre' (ml) is often preferred for everyday use.
Grammar
How to Use “centiliter” in a Sentence
[Number] centiliters of [liquid]measure [liquid] in centilitersa [adjective] centiliter [container]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “centiliter” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The centilitre measurement was crucial for the experiment.
American English
- The recipe required a centiliter amount of vanilla extract.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in specifications for bottling spirits, perfumes, or pharmaceuticals in metric markets.
Academic
Used in chemistry, biology, or physics labs when measuring precise, small liquid volumes.
Everyday
Rare in casual US/UK speech; may appear in European recipes or on beverage labels.
Technical
Standard unit in scientific contexts and metric engineering specifications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “centiliter”
- Misspelling as 'centilater' or 'sentiliter'.
- Confusing 'cl' (centiliter) with 'ml' (milliliter) on labels.
- Assuming it is a common unit in imperial-measurement countries.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is uncommon in everyday American usage. The US primarily uses fluid ounces, cups, and milliliters for small liquid volumes.
The standard abbreviation is 'cl' (e.g., 25 cl on a wine bottle).
There are 100 centiliters in one liter.
Most often on beverage labels in Europe (especially for spirits and wine), in scientific laboratories, and in some professional culinary recipes using the metric system.
A unit of volume in the metric system equal to one hundredth of a liter.
Centiliter is usually formal / technical in register.
Centiliter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛntɪˌliːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛntəˌliːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CENTImetre (1/100th of a metre) but for liquid: a CENTIliter is 1/100th of a liter.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION IS SMALLNESS (a centiliter represents a small, exact quantity).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is equivalent to one centiliter?