kilowatt-hour

[ kil-uh-wot-ouuhr, -ou-er ]

noun

1. a unit of energy, equivalent to the energy transferred or expended in one hour by one kilowatt of power; approximately 1.34 horsepower-hours. : kWh, K.W.H., kwhr

kilowatt-hour

noun

1. a unit of energy equal to the work done by a power of 1000 watts in one hour kWh

kilowatt-hour

1. A unit used to measure energy, especially electrical energy in commercial applications. One kilowatt-hour is equal to one kilowatt of power produced or consumed over a period of one hour, or 3.6 × 10 ⁶ joules.

kilowatt-hour

1. A unit of energy : the expenditure of one kilowatt of power for one hour. A toaster running for an hour will use about this much energy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kilowatt-hour¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Ten 100-watt light bulbs burning for one hour would use one kilowatt-hour—one kwh.

From Project Gutenberg

Electricity is usually purchased by the kilowatt hour, and measured by the watt-hour meter (Fig. 160).

From Project Gutenberg

These electric furnaces produce two or three ounces of nitric acid for each kilowatt-hour of current consumed.

From Project Gutenberg

Buck Kendall was casting furtive glances at the kilowatt-hour meter.

From Project Gutenberg

This plant uses local coal and the cost of coal is figured at two mills per kilowatt-hour.

From Project Gutenberg