millicoulomb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “millicoulomb” mean?
A unit of electric charge equal to one thousandth of a coulomb (1/1000 C).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of electric charge equal to one thousandth of a coulomb (1/1000 C).
A metric unit of electrical charge used in physics and engineering to measure quantities of electricity, especially in contexts like capacitor ratings, small-scale electrostatics, or battery capacity where the full coulomb is too large a unit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard SI convention in both regions.
Connotations
None. Purely technical and denotative.
Frequency
Used with equal, low frequency in technical literature in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “millicoulomb” in a Sentence
a [number] millicoulomb chargea charge of [number] millicoulombsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “millicoulomb” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The millicoulomb-level charge was carefully measured.
- We observed a millicoulomb-range discharge.
American English
- The millicoulomb-level charge was carefully measured.
- We observed a millicoulomb-range discharge.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in university-level physics, electrical engineering, and electrochemistry textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in electrical engineering, electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing, capacitor specifications, and radiation dosimetry (exposure measurements).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “millicoulomb”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “millicoulomb”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “millicoulomb”
- Misspelling as 'milocoulomb' or 'millicoulumb'.
- Confusing it with 'milliampere-hour' (mAh), a related but different unit for battery capacity.
- Incorrectly capitalising it as a proper noun (should be lowercase except at the start of a sentence).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a relatively small amount. A typical AA battery delivers thousands of coulombs of total charge over its life, so a millicoulomb is a tiny fraction of that.
In scientific and engineering contexts dealing with precise, small-scale electrical measurements, such as electrostatics, capacitor testing, and radiation dosimetry.
The standard symbol is mC, where 'm' is the SI prefix for milli- (10^-3) and 'C' is the symbol for the coulomb.
No, it is exclusively a noun (a unit of measurement). You cannot 'millicoulomb' something.
A unit of electric charge equal to one thousandth of a coulomb (1/1000 C).
Millicoulomb is usually technical / scientific in register.
Millicoulomb: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪlɪˈkuːlɒm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪlɪˌkuːlɑːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A 'MILLI'second is a tiny fraction of a second; a 'MILLI'coulomb is a tiny fraction of a coulomb (of electrical charge).
Conceptual Metaphor
ELECTRIC CHARGE IS A FLUID (measured in discrete units/volumes).
Practice
Quiz
What does the prefix 'milli-' in 'millicoulomb' signify?