Fahrenheit

American  

[far-uhn-hahyt, fahr-uhn-hahyt] / ˈfær ənˌhaɪt, ˈfɑr ənˌhaɪt /

noun

1. Gabriel Daniel 1686–1736, German physicist: devised a temperature scale and introduced the use of mercury in thermometers.

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adjective

1. noting, pertaining to, or measured according to a temperature scale Fahrenheitscale in which 32° represents the ice point and 212° the steam point. F

Fahrenheit ¹ British  

/ ˈfærənˌhaɪt /

adjective

1.  F.  of or measured according to the Fahrenheit scale of temperature

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Fahrenheit ² British  

/ ˈfaːrənhait /

noun

1. Gabriel Daniel (ˈɡaːbrieːl ˈdaːnieːl). 1686–1736, German physicist, who invented the mercury thermometer and devised the temperature scale that bears his name

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Fahrenheit ¹ Scientific  

/ făr′ən-hīt′ /

1. Relating to or based on a temperature scale that indicates the freezing point of water as 32° and the boiling point of water as 212° under standard atmospheric pressure.

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Fahrenheit ² Scientific  

1. German physicist who invented the mercury thermometer in 1714 and devised the Fahrenheit temperature scale.

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Fahrenheit ¹ Cultural  

1. A temperature scale according to which water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. The scale was devised by Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, an instrument maker of the eighteenth century, born in Germany.

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Fahrenheit ² Cultural  

1. A temperature scale, used primarily in the United States, in which the freezing point of water is 32 degrees and the boiling point 212 degrees. Temperatures in this scale are denoted by °F or, in scientific usage, F alone. (Compare Celsius.)

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Example Sentences

Temperatures in the northern half of the continent rarely rose above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and temperatures over 100 were almost unheard of.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

When the game paused during the first half of the U.S. men’s national team opener on Friday in Los Angeles, the temperature was…71 degrees Fahrenheit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

A single degree Celsius equals 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

From Science Daily • Jun. 12, 2026

Officials said on Sunday that the failing pressurized Orange County tank — filled with a toxic chemical and at risk of exploding — had reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the maximum reading on the gauge.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026

Order it for instance, to direct agricultural activity on the basis of an average July temperature in Iowa of 57 degrees Fahrenheit.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov