kilowatt-hour

[kil-uh-wot-ouuh r, -ou-er]

noun

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

Origin of kilowatt-hour

First recorded in 1890–95

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for kwh

Historical Examples of kwh

This tells you the number of kwh used by the appliance during the month.
Electricity for the 4-H Scientist
Eric B. Wilson
A kilowatt is usually indicated by "kw" and a kilowatt hour by "kwh."
Electricity for the 4-H Scientist
Eric B. Wilson
Ten 100-watt light bulbs burning for one hour would use one kilowatt-hour—one kwh.
Electricity for the 4-H Scientist
Eric B. Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for kwh

kWh

abbreviation for

kilowatt-hour

noun

a unit of energy equal to the work done by a power of 1000 watts in one hourSymbol: kWh

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

kwh in Science

kilowatt-hour

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 X 106 joules.

kwh in Culture

kilowatt-hour

[(kil-uh-waht)]

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.