hectometre: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “hectometre” mean?
A unit of length in the metric system equal to one hundred metres.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of length in the metric system equal to one hundred metres.
Used as a measurement of distance, particularly in scientific, surveying, or athletic contexts. While defined precisely, it is rarely used in everyday life.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling difference: 'hectometre' (UK) vs. 'hectometer' (US).
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both variants.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US general usage, though slightly more likely to appear in academic or engineering texts in metric-dominant regions.
Grammar
How to Use “hectometre” in a Sentence
[Number] + hectometre(s) + [Preposition] (e.g., of, to)a + [Adjective] + hectometre + [Noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hectometre” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No common verb form)
American English
- (No common verb form)
adverb
British English
- (No common adverb form)
American English
- (No common adverb form)
adjective
British English
- The hectometre marker was visible along the racecourse.
- We need a hectometre-long cable.
American English
- The hectometer sign was placed at the edge of the field.
- It was a hectometer-long section of the pipeline.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in scientific, geographical, or engineering contexts when precise intermediate scale is needed (e.g., soil science, hydrology).
Everyday
Extremely rare; 'hundred metres' is always used instead.
Technical
Used in specialised fields like land surveying, some sports (athletics track marking), and environmental science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hectometre”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hectometre”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hectometre”
- Incorrect stress (e.g., hecTOmetre). Mispronouncing 'hecto' as /ˈhɛktoʊ/ (US) or /ˈhɛktəʊ/ (UK) is standard. The mistake is using it in casual speech where 'hundred metres' is appropriate.
- Pluralising incorrectly (hectometres, not hectometre's).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare in everyday English. 'Hundred metres' or '0.1 kilometres' are used instead.
Primarily in scientific, engineering, surveying, and sometimes athletic contexts where precise metric scaling is required between the metre and kilometre.
The American spelling is 'hectometer'.
The plural is 'hectometres' (UK) or 'hectometers' (US).
A unit of length in the metric system equal to one hundred metres.
Hectometre is usually technical / scientific in register.
Hectometre: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɛktə(ʊ)ˌmiːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɛktəˌmidər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There are no common idioms for 'hectometre'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'HECTO' as 'HECtor', a strong man, lifting 100 METRE sticks.
Conceptual Metaphor
LENGTH IS A MEASURABLE QUANTITY (part of the standard scale of linear measurement).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is equivalent to one hectometre?