microvolt: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical
Quick answer
What does “microvolt” mean?
One millionth of a volt (10⁻⁶ V).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
One millionth of a volt (10⁻⁶ V); a unit of electrical potential difference, electromotive force, or voltage.
A measurement of extremely low voltage, used in contexts such as biomedical signal detection (e.g., EEG, ECG), sensitive electronics, and scientific instrumentation where minute electrical potentials are significant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No differences in meaning, spelling, or application. The unit is standardised internationally.
Connotations
None. Purely technical term.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to engineering, physics, and medical electronics contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “microvolt” in a Sentence
a [number] microvolt signalsensitive to [number] microvoltsmeasured in microvoltsa gain of [number] microvolts per divisionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “microvolt” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The amplifier requires a microvolt-level input to function correctly.
- They recorded microvolt potentials from the neural tissue.
American English
- The sensor has microvolt sensitivity.
- We detected a microvolt signal amid the background noise.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in research papers and textbooks for physics, electrical engineering, and biomedical sciences to describe signal amplitudes.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in specifications for amplifiers, oscilloscopes, and medical devices like electroencephalographs.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “microvolt”
- Misspelling as 'microvolts' (plural) when used adjectivally (e.g., 'a 10-microvolt signal' is correct, not 'a 10-microvolts signal').
- Confusing with 'millivolt' (mV), which is a thousand times larger.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised term used only in technical fields like electronics, physics, and medical instrumentation.
The standard abbreviation is µV, where 'µ' is the Greek letter mu, representing 'micro-' (one millionth).
A millivolt (mV) is one thousandth (10⁻³) of a volt. A microvolt (µV) is one millionth (10⁻⁶) of a volt, meaning 1 mV = 1000 µV.
Yes, it is commonly used attributively in technical writing, as in 'microvolt signal' or 'microvolt sensitivity'. When used with a number, it is often hyphenated (e.g., 'a 50-microvolt threshold').
One millionth of a volt (10⁻⁶ V).
Microvolt is usually technical in register.
Microvolt: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪ.krəʊ.vəʊlt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪ.kroʊ.voʊlt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MICRO' means very small (like a microbe), and 'VOLT' is the unit for electrical push. A microvolt is a million times smaller than the volt from a standard battery.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'microvolt' measure?