millibar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “millibar” mean?
A unit of atmospheric pressure equal to one thousandth of a bar, or 100 pascals, commonly used in meteorology.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of atmospheric pressure equal to one thousandth of a bar, or 100 pascals, commonly used in meteorology.
A metric unit of pressure, particularly prevalent in older weather reports and aviation to denote atmospheric pressure at sea level. Standard atmospheric pressure is approximately 1013 millibars.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both UK and US meteorological services historically used millibars, though both now officially use hectopascals.
Connotations
In both regions, the term connotes technical weather forecasting, synoptic charts, and aviation reports.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British media and older literature due to its use in the UK's historical Met Office reports.
Grammar
How to Use “millibar” in a Sentence
Pressure dropped/rose by [number] millibars.A low/high of [number] millibars.Measured in millibars.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “millibar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (not used as a verb)
American English
- (not used as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (not used as an adverb)
American English
- (not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The millibar reading was crucial for the shipping forecast.
- You can find millibar charts in older textbooks.
American English
- The millibar measurement is standard in aviation altimetry settings.
- Check the millibar value on the synoptic chart.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May appear in specialised contexts like agricultural commodity trading (weather-dependent crops) or insurance.
Academic
Common in geography, environmental science, and meteorology papers, especially older ones.
Everyday
Very rare. Heard only in detailed weather forecasts, especially for severe storm systems.
Technical
Core term in meteorology, aviation, and climatology, though being superseded by 'hPa'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “millibar”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “millibar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “millibar”
- Misspelling as 'milibar' or 'milobar'.
- Using 'millibars' to describe wind speed or temperature.
- Confusing it with 'millimeter' (of mercury, another pressure unit).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no numerical difference; 1 millibar is exactly equal to 1 hectopascal. They are different names for the same unit of pressure.
Yes, it is a metric unit derived from the bar, which is defined as 100,000 pascals. A millibar is one-thousandth of a bar.
To promote the International System of Units (SI). The hectopascal is the SI-approved name for the same unit (100 pascals), leading to its adoption in official meteorological communications.
You'll see them in older weather documents, some aviation altimeter settings, and in regions or publications that are slow to adopt the change to hectopascals. Many people also use it out of habit.
A unit of atmospheric pressure equal to one thousandth of a bar, or 100 pascals, commonly used in meteorology.
Millibar is usually technical/scientific in register.
Millibar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪlɪˌbɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪləˌbɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No common idioms)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MILLIon tiny BARs of pressure in the air around you.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRESSURE IS WEIGHT (the 'bar' refers to the Greek 'baros' meaning weight).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern equivalent of the millibar?