short hundredweight: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Commercial
Quick answer
What does “short hundredweight” mean?
A unit of mass equal to 100 pounds avoirdupois (approximately 45.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of mass equal to 100 pounds avoirdupois (approximately 45.359 kilograms), used primarily in the United States.
A specific American measurement for goods, commodities, or shipping weight, distinct from the British long hundredweight of 112 pounds.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the US, 'short hundredweight' (100 lb) is standard and is often simply called 'hundredweight' or abbreviated 'cwt'. In the UK and Commonwealth, 'hundredweight' traditionally means 'long hundredweight' (112 lb). The explicit 'short' qualifier is used for clarity in international trade.
Connotations
Connotes industrial weighing, agricultural commodities, bulk shipping, and historical measurement systems. Has no emotional or cultural connotations beyond its technical use.
Frequency
Rare in everyday conversation. Used with moderate frequency in specific US industries like agriculture, freight, and raw materials.
Grammar
How to Use “short hundredweight” in a Sentence
[Number] short hundredweight(s) of [commodity]Priced at [amount] per short hundredweightVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “short hundredweight” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The long hundredweight system is less common now.
- They quoted a short-hundredweight price for the import.
American English
- The shipment was billed at the short-hundredweight rate.
- Short-hundredweight measurements are industry standard here.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contracts, invoices, and commodity pricing, e.g., 'Soybeans are trading at $15 per short hundredweight.'
Academic
Appears in historical texts on metrology, economic history, or descriptions of US industry standards.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Essential in US engineering, logistics, agriculture, and materials science specifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “short hundredweight”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “short hundredweight”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “short hundredweight”
- Using 'short hundredweight' in a UK context without clarification.
- Assuming 'hundredweight' alone is universally understood.
- Confusing it with the metric quintal (100 kg).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'cental' is another name for the short hundredweight (100 lb). The term 'cental' is derived from the Latin 'centum' for one hundred.
It evolved from the need for a decimal-like unit within the avoirdupois system (100 lb = 1 short hundredweight, 20 short hundredweights = 1 short ton of 2000 lb). This simplified calculations for commerce in the US.
Rarely. Retail goods use pounds (lb) or kilograms (kg). 'Short hundredweight' is used for bulk commodities (grain, coal, steel) in wholesale and industrial contexts, often abbreviated as 'cwt'.
Always clarify the pound value (100 vs. 112) when the term 'hundredweight' is used without a 'short' or 'long' qualifier, especially in international communication. When in doubt, specify the weight in pounds or kilograms.
A unit of mass equal to 100 pounds avoirdupois (approximately 45.
Short hundredweight is usually technical / commercial in register.
Short hundredweight: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃɔːt ˈhʌndrədweɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃɔrt ˈhʌndrədweɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SHORT' means SHORTER than the British version. The US hundredweight is 100 pounds, which is a shorter weight than the UK's 112-pound hundredweight.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEIGHT IS A CONTAINER (e.g., 'a hundredweight of grain'), MEASUREMENT IS A PATH (short vs. long path to a full weight).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of the term 'short hundredweight'?