systeme international d'unites: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal, Technical, Scientific
Quick answer
What does “systeme international d'unites” mean?
The internationally agreed system of units of measurement, based on seven base units (metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole, candela).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The internationally agreed system of units of measurement, based on seven base units (metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole, candela).
The modern form of the metric system and the world's most widely used system of measurement, used in science, technology, industry, and commerce.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both use 'SI' as the standard abbreviation.
Connotations
Technical, precise, international standard.
Frequency
Equally common in scientific/technical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “systeme international d'unites” in a Sentence
The [noun] is expressed in SI.All measurements must conform to SI.The experiment used SI units.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “systeme international d'unites” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Système International d'Unités provides a consistent framework for global trade.
- All new textbooks must use the SI exclusively.
American English
- Federal labs are required to use the International System of Units for reporting.
- The SI simplifies calculations by using base-ten prefixes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in international trade specifications and technical documentation.
Academic
The mandatory system for reporting scientific data in most journals.
Everyday
Rarely used in full; 'metric' is more common in casual conversation.
Technical
The definitive reference for units in engineering, physics, and chemistry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “systeme international d'unites”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “systeme international d'unites”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “systeme international d'unites”
- Using 'SI' as an adjective (e.g., 'an SI') instead of 'the SI'.
- Confusing SI with the broader 'metric system'.
- Incorrect capitalization: 'si' instead of 'SI'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
SI is the modern, coherent form of the metric system, defined by international agreement. 'Metric system' is a broader, sometimes less precise term.
It is pronounced as the letters 'S' and 'I' separately: /ˌɛs ˈaɪ/ in American English and /ˌsiː ˈaɪ/ in British English.
The official style is 'SI' without periods. It is an initialism, not an abbreviation.
Metre (length), kilogram (mass), second (time), ampere (electric current), kelvin (temperature), mole (amount of substance), candela (luminous intensity).
The internationally agreed system of units of measurement, based on seven base units (metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole, candela).
Systeme international d'unites is usually formal, technical, scientific in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “speak SI”
- “think in SI”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SI stands for 'Standard International' units.
Conceptual Metaphor
A universal language of measurement.
Practice
Quiz
What does the 'S' in SI stand for?