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hundredweight: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C2
UK/ˈhʌndrədweɪt/US/ˈhʌndrədweɪt/

formal/technical

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Quick answer

What does “hundredweight” mean?

a unit of weight equal to 100 pounds in the US and Canada, or 112 pounds in the UK.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

a unit of weight equal to 100 pounds in the US and Canada, or 112 pounds in the UK

A traditional unit of mass used in imperial systems, historically used in trade and agriculture; still appears in some industries like commodities and shipping.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Different numerical values: US hundredweight = 100 lb, UK hundredweight = 112 lb. The UK version is sometimes called 'long hundredweight' and the US 'short hundredweight'.

Connotations

Both have technical/conservative connotations; the term feels outdated outside specific industries.

Frequency

More common in UK than US historically, but declining in both. Survives in agricultural, mining, and some industrial contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “hundredweight” in a Sentence

NUM + hundredweight + of + NOUNweigh + NUM + hundredweightsell + at + NUM + per hundredweight

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
per hundredweighta hundredweight ofhundredweight measurement
medium
sell by hundredweightprice per hundredweightweigh several hundredweight
weak
hundredweight systemtraditional hundredweightmetric vs hundredweight

Examples

Examples of “hundredweight” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • hundredweight measurements
  • hundredweight system

American English

  • hundredweight pricing
  • hundredweight capacity

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used in commodities trading, especially for agricultural products like grain or livestock.

Academic

Appears in historical economic texts or studies of measurement systems.

Everyday

Virtually never used in casual conversation.

Technical

Used in engineering, shipping, mining, and agriculture where imperial units persist.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “hundredweight”

Neutral

cwtweight unit

Weak

cental (US specific)quintal (metric equivalent)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “hundredweight”

kilogrammetric tongram

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “hundredweight”

  • Using 'hundredweight' interchangeably with 'hundred kilograms'.
  • Assuming UK and US values are the same.
  • Plural form: 'hundredweight' (same form) or 'hundredweights'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

'cwt' is the abbreviation for hundredweight, from the Latin 'centum' (hundred) plus 'weight'.

Generally no, though it might appear in historical contexts or specific international trade with the US/UK.

The US adopted a simplified 100-pound hundredweight in the 19th century, while the UK kept the traditional 112-pound measure based on 8 stone.

UK hundredweight ≈ 50.802 kg, US hundredweight ≈ 45.359 kg. Multiply by these factors for conversion.

a unit of weight equal to 100 pounds in the US and Canada, or 112 pounds in the UK.

Hundredweight is usually formal/technical in register.

Hundredweight: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌndrədweɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʌndrədweɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

HUNDRED + WEIGHT: think of it as 'a hundred pounds weight' in the US, but in UK it's 'a hundred and twelve' (add 12).

Conceptual Metaphor

MEASUREMENT IS QUANTITY

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
In the United States, one hundredweight is equivalent to pounds.
Multiple Choice

Which industry is most likely to still use the hundredweight unit?

hundredweight: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore