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zepto-

  1. a combining form meaning “one sextillionth” (10 -21 ).


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Words That Use zepto-

What does zepto- mean?

Zepto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “one sextillionth (10-21) .” It is very occasionally used in scientific terms to name units.

Zepto- comes from an alteration of the form hepta-, from Greek heptá, meaning “seven.” The name is a reference to 10-21, which is equivalent to 1000-7. To learn more, read our Words That Use article on hepta-. The z in zepto- was added as part of a reverse alphabetical paradigm for creating numerical combining forms, along with yocto- (10-24); compare with zetta-, meaning “one sextillion,” by reading our Words That Use article on that form.

Examples of zepto-

One example of a technical term that uses the form zepto- is zeptosecond, “one sextillionth (10-21) of a second.”

The zepto- part of the word means “one sextillionth,” and -second here refers to the unit of measure of time that is “the sixtieth part of a minute.” Zeptosecond literally translates to “one sextillionth of a second.”

What are some words that use the combining form zepto-?

  • zeptobar
  • zeptogram
  • zeptometer
  • zeptomolar

What are some other forms that zepto- may be commonly confused with?

Break it down!

Given the meaning of zepto-, what is a zeptometer?

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zeppelinzeptosecond