coordinated universal time

[ koh-awr-dn-ey-tid yoo-nuh-vur-suhl tahym ]

noun

1. Greenwich Time that is adjusted to minimize its divergence from international atomic time. : UTC

coordinated universal time

/ kō-ôr′dn-ā′tĭd /

1. A highly accurate time scale based on time measured by an atomic clock. Because coordinated universal time is unaffected by the gradual slowing of Earth's rotation, leap seconds are added as needed to synchronize it with the sidereal (rotation-based) universal time. Coordinated universal time is used internationally for scientific and technical purposes.
2. Compare universal time

Word History and Origins

Origin of coordinated universal time¹

First recorded in 1965–70