gigawatt: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical
Quick answer
What does “gigawatt” mean?
A unit of electrical power equal to one billion watts.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of electrical power equal to one billion watts.
Often used to describe the output of large power plants or in science fiction to denote immense energy levels.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Similarly technical and neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in general usage, primarily found in specialized contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gigawatt” in a Sentence
numeral + gigawattgigawatt + of + nounVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in energy sector reports and projections, e.g., 'The new plant will have a capacity of 2 gigawatts.'
Academic
Common in physics and engineering papers discussing power generation or consumption.
Everyday
Rarely used; might appear in news about energy or sci-fi discussions.
Technical
Standard term in electrical engineering and energy metrics for measuring power.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gigawatt”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gigawatt”
- Using gigawatt to refer to energy instead of power; correct term for energy is gigawatt-hour.
- Mispronouncing the first syllable as 'jee' instead of 'gig' with a hard 'g'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A gigawatt is a unit of power equal to one billion watts.
In British English, it's typically /ˈɡɪɡəwɒt/, and in American English, /ˈɡɪɡəwɑːt/.
No, it is primarily used in technical and scientific contexts.
A gigawatt is a unit of power, while gigawatt-hour is a unit of energy, representing power over time.
A unit of electrical power equal to one billion watts.
Gigawatt is usually technical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'giga' as in 'gigantic', so gigawatt means a gigantic watt—a billion watts.
Conceptual Metaphor
Power as magnitude; gigawatts symbolize vast energy or influence, often metaphorically for large-scale impact.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a gigawatt?