statvolt: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
extremely rare / C2+formal, exclusively technical
Quick answer
What does “statvolt” mean?
A unit of electric potential and electromotive force in the CGS electrostatic system, equal to approximately 299.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of electric potential and electromotive force in the CGS electrostatic system, equal to approximately 299.79 volts.
A rarely used, obsolete unit of measurement specific to the field of physics and electrical engineering, representing potential difference in the centimetre-gram-second (CGS) system of units.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning or usage; it is a technical term used identically in all scientific contexts where it might appear.
Connotations
Obsolete, historical, highly specialised.
Frequency
Equally and exceptionally rare in both UK and US academic/scientific writing. The SI unit (volt) has completely supplanted it.
Grammar
How to Use “statvolt” in a Sentence
[number] statvolt(s)equal to [number] statvoltsVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Exclusively in historical physics texts or discussions of unit systems.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Used only in theoretical or historical discussions of electromagnetism within the CGS system.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “statvolt”
Strong
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “statvolt”
- Using it in a modern engineering context.
- Spelling it as 'stat-volt' or 'stat volt'.
- Pronouncing the 'a' in 'stat' as in 'state' rather than as in 'static'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost certainly not, unless you are studying the history of physics or delving into non-SI unit systems in great depth.
A statvolt is the unit of potential in the CGS electrostatic system, while a volt is the SI unit. One statvolt equals approximately 299.79 volts.
It was standard in scientific literature before the widespread adoption of the SI (Système International) system of units, which established the volt as the global standard.
It is exclusively a noun, specifically a count noun for a unit of measurement (e.g., 'several statvolts').
A unit of electric potential and electromotive force in the CGS electrostatic system, equal to approximately 299.
Statvolt is usually formal, exclusively technical in register.
Statvolt: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstatvəʊlt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstætvoʊlt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'STATic electricity VOLTage'. It's the volt for static (electrostatic) systems.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNIT IS A CONTAINER FOR POTENTIAL (abstract).
Practice
Quiz
What is a statvolt?