milliliter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighFormal, Scientific, Medical, Culinary
Quick answer
What does “milliliter” mean?
A unit of volume in the metric system equal to one thousandth of a litre.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of volume in the metric system equal to one thousandth of a litre.
A precise, small measure used for quantifying liquids, especially in scientific, medical, or culinary contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English typically spells it 'millilitre', while American English uses 'milliliter'. Both are pronounced the same. The abbreviation 'ml' or 'mL' is universal.
Connotations
Conveys precision, science, and quantification. No difference in connotation between variants.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties within technical and formal registers.
Grammar
How to Use “milliliter” in a Sentence
NUMERAL + ml (of + NOUN)V (measure/pour/contain) + X + mlVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “milliliter” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The millilitre measurement is crucial.
American English
- The milliliter measurement is crucial.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in product specifications (e.g., 'a 330ml beverage can').
Academic
Standard unit in scientific experiments and reports (e.g., 'Add 10ml of reagent').
Everyday
Common on food and drink packaging, medicine bottles, and in cooking recipes.
Technical
Fundamental unit in chemistry, biology, pharmacology, and engineering for precise volume measurement.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “milliliter”
- Misspelling as 'mililiter' (single 'l').
- Confusing the abbreviation 'ml' with 'mg' (milligram).
- Using a plural 's' in the abbreviation ('mls' is non-standard; use 'ml' or 'mL').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the main difference is spelling. British English uses 'millilitre', while American English uses 'milliliter'. Both are correct in their respective dialects.
The standard abbreviations are 'ml' or 'mL'. Using 'mL' can help avoid confusion with the number '1'. The plural form is not indicated with an 's' in the abbreviation (e.g., '250 ml', not '250 mls').
For all practical purposes in medicine and cooking, yes, 1 ml = 1 cc. In highly precise scientific contexts, there is a minuscule theoretical difference, but they are used interchangeably.
Use millilitres for smaller, more precise quantities of liquids or fine substances, typically under one litre. It is the standard unit on medicine labels, in laboratory work, and for small beverage containers. Use litres for larger volumes like petrol in a car or milk in a large jug.
A unit of volume in the metric system equal to one thousandth of a litre.
Milliliter is usually formal, scientific, medical, culinary in register.
Milliliter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪlɪliːtə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪlɪliːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a small paperclip – its volume is roughly 1 millilitre. 'Milli' means one-thousandth, so a millilitre is one-thousandth of a litre (a small bottle of water).
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION IS A MEASURED QUANTITY; SCIENCE IS QUANTIFICATION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a correct statement about a millilitre?