kilo

¹ American  

[kee-loh, kil-oh] / ˈki loʊ, ˈkɪl oʊ /

noun

plural

kilos

1. kilogram.

2. kilometer.

3. (a word used in communications to represent the letterK. )

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kilo- ² American  

1. a Greek combining form meaning “thousand,” introduced from French in the nomenclature of the metric system (kiloliter ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words in other scientific measurements (kilowatt ).

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kilo ¹ British  

/ ˈkiːləʊ /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter k

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kilo- ² British  

prefix

1.  k.  denoting 10³ (1000)

   kilometre

2. (in computer technology) denoting 2 ¹⁰ (1024): kilobyte: in computer usage, kilo- is restricted to sizes of storage (e.g. kilobit ) when it means 1024; in other computer contexts it retains its usual meaning of 1000

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kilo ³ British  

/ ˈkiːləʊ /

noun

1. short for kilogram kilometre

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kilo– Scientific  

1. A prefix that means:

2. One thousand, as in kilowatt, one thousand watts.

3. 2 ¹⁰ (that is, 1,024), which is the power of 2 closest to 1,000, as in kilobyte.

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Usage

What does kilo- mean? Kilo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “thousand.” It is often used in units of measure.Kilo- comes from Greek chī́lioi, meaning “a thousand.” The Latin translation of chī́lioi is mille, “a thousand,” which is the source of English terms such as millennium and millipede. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.

Etymology

Origin of kilo¹

First recorded in 1865–70; shortened form

Origin of kilo-²

< French, representing Greek chī́lioi a thousand

Example Sentences

At the time people waited in line for hours to buy a half kilo of coffee or sugar.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

In October, just ahead of his re-election, President Alassane Ouattara announced himself that authorities were setting the price at a record high of 2,800 CFA francs a kilo.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

"In these two-and-a-half months I haven't loaded even a single kilo of cargo. Work has come to a standstill," he said.

From Barron's • Jan. 4, 2026

He told the BBC he charged $150 per kilo.

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2025

Pascal had a kilo of sugar cane and a defunct World War II handgun in his backpack.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver